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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chcckad  baiow. 


n 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coutour 


I      I   CovaTS  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagdka 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  r^tauria  at/ou  pallicul^ 

Covar  titia  miaaing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  giographiquaa  mn  coulaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Colouiad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  ^n  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RalM  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


D 


D 


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Tight  binding  may  eauaa  shadows  or  distortion 
•long  intarior  .nargin/ 

La  r«  liura  sarria  paut  causar  da  I'ombro  ou  da  la 
distorsion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  iaavas  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibia,  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajout«aa 
lors  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia,  lorsqua  cala  «tait  poaaibia.  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «ti  filmtea. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  supplAmantairaa: 


L'Instit'Jt  a  microfilm*  la  mailleur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possibia  da  sa  procurar.  Las  details 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  sont  paut-itra  uniques  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvent  modifier 
una  image  raproduite,  ou  qui  pauvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
Q 
D 
0 
D 

Q 
D 
0 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pagaa  da  couiaur 

Pagaa  damaged/ 
Pagaa  anciommagtes 

Pagaa  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  reataur«es  et/ou  pellicui«es 

Pagaa  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicclories,  tachat^es  ou  piquies 

Pagaa  detached/ 
Pagaa  d^tach^as 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit*  inAgala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  suppiimentaira 

Only  edition  v  ailabla/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  hava  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obacurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  peluie, 
etc..  ont  At*  filmies  i  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  mailleure  image  possibHe. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ca  document  est  film4  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


LJ_L 


26X 


XX 


12X 


16X 


20X 


y 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library 

Indian  and  Northern  Affairs 

The  imeges  eppeering  here  ere  the  best  quelity 
possible  considering  the  condition  end  iegibility 
of  the  originel  copy  end  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contrect  specificetions. 


Originel  copies  in  printed  psper  covers  ere  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  end  ending  on 
the  lest  psge  with  e  printed  or  illustrsted  impres- 
sion, or  the  beck  cover  when  appropriete.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrsted  impres- 
•.ion.  and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illu&lrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  retios.  Those  too  ierge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'e;templaire  film*  f ut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
g6n4rositA  de: 

Bibliothique 

Affairat  indiennes  et  du  Nord 

Les  Images  suivantes  ont  6t4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  I'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  flimte  en  commenpent 
per  le  premier  piet  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  !es  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fllm6s  en  commenpent  per  la 
premiere  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustretion  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivsnts  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableeux.  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
fiimAs  A  des  taux  de  r6duction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grsnd  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich«,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  i'engle  supArieur  geuche.  de  geuche  A  droite. 
et  de  heut  en  bss,  en  prenent  le  nombre 
d'images  nicesssire.  Les  disgrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  Se  mAthode. 


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BIOGRAPHY 


or 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


BY 


WILLIAM   ELDER. 


(8 

VI 

i 

|. 

i 
t 


PHILADELPHIA: 
CHILDS  &  PETERSON,  602  AECII  STREET. 

LONDON: 
TRUBNER  &  CO.,  60  PATERNOSTER  ROW. 

1858. 


Eutered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 

GUILDS  &  I'ETERSON, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  tlie  United  States  for  the  Eastern  District  of 


rennsylviinia. 


STEREOTYPED   IIY   L.  JOHNSON  t  CO. 

rHlLAnEI.l'lIIA. 
PRINTED  DY  DEiCON  ft  PETEE30K. 


TO  THE  READEE. 


14] 


This  book  was  announced  as  forthcoming  in  May  last, 
and  was  expected  by  the  subscribers  for  over  thirty  thou- 
sand copies  about  midsummer ;  but,  notwithstanding  a  per- 
sistency of  effort  which  threatened  to  exhaust  every  thing 
in  me  except  my  patience  and  hope,  I  was  not  able  to 
secure  the  narrative  material  for  the  third  chapter  until 
the  end  of  August;  and  that  which  was  required  for  all 
after  the  eighth  was  delayed  till  the  7th  of  November. 

I  have  worked  hard,  under  pressure  of  u  clamorous  im- 
patience for  the  publication.  The  toil  which  does  not 
appear  in  these  pages,  I  think,  amounts  to  ten  times  more 
than  the  reader  will  discover, — unless  he  has  some  time 
written  a  biography  out  of  the  raw  material.  I  have  not 
been  unpunctual.  Moreover,  I  have  had  so  very,  very  little 
help  that  my  only  temptation  to  affect  thankfulness  would 
be  a  division  of  the  responsibility,  which,  in  the  strictest 
justice  to  all  parties,  rests  exclusively  upon  myself. 

My  aim  was  not  to  write  a  review  of  Dr.  Kane's  writings, 
but  a  memoir  of  the  man,  which  might  serve  to  make  his 
readers  personally  acquainted  with  him.  I  would  do  this, 
or  I  would  do  nothing ;  and,  working  steadily  to  this  end, 
I  think  I  have  not  diluted  my  narrative  with  any  thing 


i 

(9 
V) 

i 

i 
i 

i 


TO    THE    READER. 


except  my  own  personality,— for  wliicli  I  respectfully  refuse 
to  offer  either  justification  or  apology. 

It  will  be  observed  how  largely,  and  how  freely  too,  I  have 
quoted  from  Dr.  Kane's  private  letters  and  memoranda. 
Bless  the  memory  of  the  man  for  the  happiness  I  have  this 
day  in  declaring  that  I  have  not  been  obliged  to  suppress  a 
letter  or  a  line  for  the  sake  of  his  fame  !  I  struck  out  only 
one  word  in  all  my  quotations  from  his  manuscript,  and 
altered  one  in  the  report  of  him  by  a  correspondent ;  and 
these  only  because  they  would  have  been  misunderstood. 

May  I  not  well  be  glad  that  nothing  has  discovered  itself, 
in  all  this  scrutiny  of  the  character  and  conduct  of  my  sub- 
ject,  which  could  affect  my  regard  for  him,  or  leave  me  with 
a  shade  of  doubt  or  discomfort  after  all  I  have  said  of  him  ? 
The  "Obsequies  of  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane,"  appended  to 
the  biography  proper,  and  making  so  large  a  part  of  the 
volume's  value,  were  prepared  by  the  Honorable  Joseph  E. 
Chandler,  of  this  city.  His  name  is  a  sufficient  voucher  for 
their  worth. 


Philadelphia,  December  14,  1857. 


W.  E. 


' 


* 


Gen 
C 

d( 


The 
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0 

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Sei 


J 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


FAai 


Genealogy— The  Maternal  Line  through  a  Century— Birth— Baptism- 
Childhood— Hardihood— Pugilism  and  Polar  Practice— School-Cramps 
—Juvenile  Polytechnics— Drift  of  Nature  under  Direction  of  Provi- 


dence. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Boy's  Battle  vrith  the  Books— His  Studies  at  Play— Reconciliation  on 
his  own  Terms,  and  at  Work  with  a  Will— His  Collegiate  Course— Civil 
Engineering— System  Suiting  the  Subject— Dangerous  Illness— Self- 
Culture,  its  Limits  and  its  Authorities— Life  in  a  New  Light— The  Study 
of  Medicine— A  Student  at  Blockley— Character  at  Twenty-One— Celi- 
bacy, and  a  Reason  for  it 


13 


29 


i 

It 
tj 

VI 

i 
< 
i 

4 


CHAPTER  III. 

Senior  Physician  at  Blockley— Duties  and  Studies— Inaugural  Thesis- 
Verdict  of  the  Profession— Physiological  Exploration,  Methodology, 
Apparatus,  Certitude— Unrest,  Cause  and  Cure— Assistant  Surgeon 
United  States  Navy— Better  Health— China  Mission— First  Voyage— 
"As  it  is  written"— Studies  Aboard— Around  Bombay— Ceylon- 
Tropic  Life 


44 


i 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Forethought  of  Travel-Luzon-The  Negritos-A  Grar.J  Earrble- 
A  Vagrant  Sou-en ir-Volcano  of  Tael,  Pescripticn  and  History-De- 
scent of  the  Crater-An  Indignant  Idol-Skirmish  with  the  Pygmies- 
Tho  "  Treaty  rortnight"-Ki-ying  and  Cushing-Antipodal  Gentle- 
men-A  Dinner-Celestial  Health-Drinking- Attaches -Diplomatic 
Darce — Disappointment 


FAQB 


57 


CHAPTER  V. 


Testmiony  of  ^he  Secretary  and  Chaplain  of  the  Mission-Professional 
Practice  in  China-Rice-Fever  Attack-Homeward-Borneo-Sin'-a- 
pore-Snmatra-Intenor  India-Persia  and  Syria-Tho  Nile,  from 
the  Sea  to  Scnnaar-Professor  Lepsius-Life  at  Thebes-Egyntology- 
Nilotic  Diluvium-Boat- Wreck-Skirmish  with  Bedouins-Attack  of 


the  Plague. 


74 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Stacae  of  Mcmnon-The  Ascension,  Risk,  Escape-Greece  traversed 
afoot-Gcrmany-Switzerland-Paris-Surgic!  Practice  in  the  East 
-ALettcr-Ttaly-England-AU  the  World  over-A  Winter  at  Home 
-Repugnance  to  the  "  Service"-Waiting  Orders-Mis-sent-Coast  of 
Gun,ea-Dahomey-Pattern  of  a  King-Birthday  Ode-Prero..ative 
Royal-Magnilicence-The  Sla^e-Trado-Human  Sacrifico-Tho 
Coast-Fevor-Sent  IIome-The  ^leet-Surgcon's  Report.  oq 


CHAPTER  VXI. 

A  Summer  of  Suffering-Opportunity  los^-Tho  Last  Chance  seized- 
D  .patched  to  Mex.co-Shipwreck  in  the  Gulf-Tho  Spy-CompaMy- 
Affair  at  Nopaluca-Rescuo  of  his  Prisoncrs-IIa.J  Fighting  and 
Kough  Surgory-Woundod-Typlm.  Te/er-Newspuper  H'story- 
Suffeit  of  Patriotism-Irksomeness  of  t'le  Livery-Charge,  against  Do- 
iningues-The  Ilorse-Claim-IJ  >w  it  was  proved,  and  what  it  .,rMv.,!= 

jlratitudo  of  his  Prisoners 

108 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


FAaa 


PAoa 


57 


74 


90 


Colonel  Child's  Letter — Compliment  to  General  Gaona — His  Reply — "  The 
Flag  of  Freedom" — Complimentary  Sword — Dr.  Kane's  Acceptance — 
Colonel  Gaona's  Wound — Dr.  Kane's  PriGoners — Palasios  shot — Douiin- 
gues  missed — Iland-to-hand  Conflict — Loss  and  Gain  upon  "Relic" — 
To  Head-Quarters — Invalided — Homeward — Despondency—  "Bureau- 
Favor  refracted — Tread-Mill  Regime — To  the  Mediterranean — Lock- 
jaw— Dying  Experience — Recuperation— Coast-Survey — An  Interlude 
— Lady  Franklin's  Appeal — American  Response — Dr.  Kane  volunteers 
— Ambition's  Last  Gasp — Amusement  and  other  Refreshments — Off  to 
the  Arctic 127 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Franklin's  Voyages — Search-Expeditions — United  States  Grinnell  Expe- 
dition—Lieutenant Do  Haven — Arctic  Rose-Plucking— The  Captain's 
Douhts — The  Doctor's  Decision — The  Personal  Narrative — Horrors  of 
Authorship — Dietetics  and  Drugs — Public  Lecturing — Expeditions  of 
1852 — Estimate  of  Buttons — Second  Voyage  postponed — Little  "Wiliio 
— In  Memoriam — Grinnell  Land — Arrowsmith  and  the  Admiralty — 
Adjourned  Justice—  Dr.  Kane  and  Colonel  Force — Comity  and  Equity.  140 

CHAPTER  X. 

Mr.  Kennedy's  Alacrity- Sympathy  of  the  Savans — Confidence  strength- 
ened— Exciting  the  Officials — Hopes  on  a  Sce-saw — Drudgery  of  Boring 
— Kennedy  Channel — Cash  Contributions — Lecturing-Business — Mr. 
Poabody — Deficiencies  of  Outfit — Laborious  Preparations — Patriotic 
Enthugiusm — Tlie  Honors  in  Danger — Race  against  Time — Admiralty 
Chart— A  Time  to  bo  Sick — Daily  Prayers— Cliristian  Heroism— Spe- 
cial Providence- Worshipamung  the  Hummocks — Vindication  of  Faith 
— "IIow  rcadcst  thou?"— Saving  Faith 166 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Motives  and  Objects — Declaration  i«  extremis — Working  up  the  Coast  of 
Greouland — Good-by(>— A  Father's  Testimony — Franklin's  Chances— 


1 

VI 

'I 

4 
< 

i 

4 

c 


> 


8 


CONTENTS. 


TMl 


Refuge  with  the  Natives — Supporting  Authorities — Sir  R.  Murchison — 
The  Brave  trust  the  Bravo — Contributions  to  Scionce — Inedited  Manu- 
scripts— The  Open  Sea — Logical  Demonstration — The  Discovery — The 
Last  Throw — ^^Villiam  Morton — Facts  and  Theories — Lieutenant  Maury 
— Kane's  Official  Report — British  Achievements — Results  of  Explora- 
tion— Washington  Land — AVithin  the  Polar  Ice-Ring , 187 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

The  Natural  Sciences — Glaciology — Relief-Expedition — Captain  Ilarb- 
stene — Dr.  John  K.  Kane — The  Knight  and  his  Squire — The  Three 
Captains — Authorship  again — Pains  and  Penalties — Author  and  Pub- 
lishers—  The  Unwritten  Book — Engravings — Mr,  Hamilton — Dr. 
Kane's  Drawings  —  Artistic  Skill — Facility  and  Fidelity — Congres- 
sional Subscription — Popular  and  Public  Patronage — The  Author's 
Involvement  —  The  Secretary's  Commendation  —  Testimonials  and 
Medals 209 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

Kane's  Sea — The  Chart — Summary  of  Operations — Last  Will — ^Voyage 
to  England — Hoping  against  Hope — Reception  in  London — Last  Letter 
— Disease  of  the  Heart — Voyage  to  St.  Thomas — On  his  AVay  to  Cuba 
— Attack  of  Paralysis — At  Havana — Longing  for  Home — Last  Scene 
of  all — Ilesleepeth — Interpretation — Church  Relations — Free-Masonry 
— The  Obsequies — Legislative  Resolutions — Learned  Societies  — 
English  Testimonial 229 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Personal  Description — Social  Bearing — Spirit-Power — Portraits — Hyper- 
trophy— Kindness  for  Animals — Gun-Murder — Dog-People — Man  and 
Beast — Godfrey — North  British  Review — Withdrawing  Party — Man- 
ners and  Customs — Toodla-mik — Tastes  and  Antipnthios— Novels  and 
Plays— Prose-Poetry — Mental  Method— ^ledical  Skepticism— Benefits 
of  the  Study — Governing-Power — The  Outside  Passage— Routine  and 
Organization — Esquimaux  Allies — Fondness  for  Children — Justice  to 
Subordinates — All  else  submitted — The  End 249 


CONTENTS. 


9 


LETTER  FROM  DR.  HAYES. 


PAQI 


Dr.  Kane's  Plan  of  Search— Adventures  of  the  Depot-Party— Return  of 
Part  of  them— Starting  of  the  Rolief-Party— Inadequate  Appliances- 
Special  Providence — Their  Return— Death  of  Baker  and  Schubert — 
Dr.  Kane's  Sickness — ^Want  of  Dogs— Appearance  of  Esquimaux — An 
Exchange  effected — Breaking  down 269 


LETTER  FROM  AMOS  BONSALL. 

Early  Acquaintance  with  Dr.  Kane— Volunteering  for  the  Expedition- 
Character  of  the  Sailors— Dr.  Kane's  alleged  Cruelty  to  his  Men— His 
Leniency- Ilis  Self-Denial  and  Kindness  to  the  Sick— Death  of  Jeffer- 
son T.  Baker  and  Pierre  Schubert— Character  of  Baker 273 


LETTER  FROM  HENRY  GOODFELLOW. 

Dr.  Kane's  Sea-Sickness- His  Habits  on  Board— Failing  Health— The 
Rescue-Party- A  Bad  Restorative— Government  of  the  Crew— Allow- 
ance of  Food— Dr.  Kane's  Abhorrence  of  Corporal  Punishment— His 
Attention  to  the  Sick— His  Spirit  of  Scientific  Inquirj  —His  Social 
Demeanor  and  Conversation — Exercise— Dietetics 276 


REPORT  OF  OBSEQUIES. 

Introductory  Remarks 287 

Proceedings  of  City  Councils  of  Philadelphia 288 

Mr.  Cuyler's  Remarks  and  Resolutions 288 

Message  of  Mayor  Vaux 289 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Perkins 290 

Kcsolutions  offered  by  Messrs.  Ilolman  and  Henry 290 

Meeting  of  Citizens 291 

Mayor  Vuux'h  iiemurka ...i.. • 29i 


i 

w 

VI 

i 

II' 
i 

i 

c 


i 


la 


CONTENTS. 


FAGI 

Remarks  of  Hon,  William  B.  Reed 292 

Major  Riddle's  Speech 294 

Professor  Frazer's  Address 296 

Mr.  Chandler's  Speech 2S7 

Remarks  of  Rev.  Dr.  Boardman 298 

Corn  Exchange 299 

Committee's  Resolutions 300 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Busby * 300 

Proceedings  at  Havana 302 

Communication  from  the  Captain-General 302 

Resolutions  adopted  at  the  Meeting  of  American  Citizens 303 

Remarks  of  Don  Jos6  J.  de  Echavarria 304 

Response  of  Consul  Blytho 305 

Ceremonies  at  New  Orleans , 306 

Ceremonies  at  Louisville,  Ky 307 

Programme  for  Reception  of  Remains 308 

Ceremonies  at  Cincinnati 310 

Programme 310 

Relatives  of  the  Deceased :  Colonel  T.  L.  Kane,  Robert  P.  Kane, 

John  K.  Kane;  William  Morton 313 

Reception  of  Remains  by  the  Cincinnati  Committee 315 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Monroe,  on  behalf  of  the  Louisville  and  New  Al- 
bany Committees 315 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Anderson  in  reply 317 

The  Coffin 319 

The  Procession 320 

Ceremonies  at  Columbus 320 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Anderson,  on  behalf  of  the  Cincinnati  Committee.  322 

Religious  Exerciscsat  the  Capitol 327 

Prayer  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Steele 327 

Substance  of  a  Discourse  by  Rev.  James  Ilogo,  D.D 329 

Concluding  Prayers  and  Benediction 336 

Order  of  Procession  to  Railroad-Station 333 

Ceremonies  at  Baltimore 339 

Crossing  the  Ohio 339 

Disappointment  at  Wheeling 34I 

Crossing  the  Mountains.. 34] 


...  292 
...  294 
...  296 
...  2S7 
...  298 
...  299 
...  300 
...  300 
...  302 
...  302 
...  303 
...  304 
...  305 
...  30G 
...  307 
...  308 
...  310 
...  310 
le, 

...  313 
...  315 
U- 

...  315 
...  317 
...  319 
...  320 
...  320 
se.  322 
...  327 
...  327 
...  329 
...  336 
...  338 
...  339 
...  339 
...  341 
,..  341 


CONTENTS.  11 

FAOa 

Reception  of  the  Remains  by  the  Baltimore  Committee 341 

Arrival  at  Baltimore 342 

The  Procession 343 

Appearance  of  the  City  while  the  Remains  were  passing  through  it  345 

Meeting  of  the  Maryland  Institute 346 

Remarks  of  Mayor  Swann 346 

Resolutions 343 

Remarks  of  AVilliam  H.  Young 349 

Remarks  of  Hon.  John  P.  Kennedy 350 

Proceedings  of  the  Companions  of  Dr.  Kane  at  Philadelphia 358 

Deputations  from  New  York  and  other  Cities .'.,.  300 

Arrival  of  the  Remains  at  Philadelphia 301 

Programme  of  Procession  to  Independence  Hall 3G2 

Remarks  of  Messrs.  Dukehart,  Chandler,  and  Parry 363 

The  Funeral  Procession 305 

Exercises  in  the  Church 3Q3 

Invocation,  by  Rev.  Charles  Wadsworth,  D.D 368 

Funeral  Discourse,  by  Rev.  Charles  W.  Shields 370 

Prayer,  by  Rev.  Dr.Boardnian 3gO 

Conclusion  of  Exercises 3gj 

Remarks  and  Acknowledgments  of  Committee 382 

Proposed  Erection  of  a  Monument  to  Dr.  Kane 386 


MASONIC  OBSEQUIES. 

Resolutions  of  Arcana  Lodge,  of  New  York 391 

Meeting  of  Lodge  of  Sorrow 3^2 

Ode  by  Brother  Herring 003 

Address  by  Grand  Master  John  L.  Lewis,  Jr 393 

Letters  to  the  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  Now  York 395 

Commodore  Stewart,  U.S.N ^nn 

Commodore  Perry,  U.S.N one 

Commodore  Read,  U.S.N ooa 

oyo 

Lieutenant  Mnnrv.  U  S  ^^  «-=, 

'"     ■    '" ...I. .11 jiji 

Major-GenerulJohn  E.  Wool,  U.S.A oq-* 


Hi 

VI 

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2 

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I 


12  CONTENTS. 

Honorable  Judge  Kane 397 

Honorable  Edward  Everett 398 

C.  Edwards  Lester,  Esq 398 

Washington  Irving,  Esq , 398 

Fitz-Greene  Halleck,  Esq 399 

J.  D.  Evans,  P.G.  M.  of  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York 399 

R.  L.   Schoonmaker,  Grand  Chaplain  of  Grand  Lodge  of  New. 

York,  &c.  &c 399 

Hymn,  by  Brother  George  P.  Morris 403 

Eulogy,  by  Grand  Master  Honorable  E.  W.  Andrews 4C4 


Tkat 
...  397 

...  398 

...  398 

...  398 

...  399 

...  399 

....  399 
...  403 
,...  4C4 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENEALOGY — THE  MATERNAL  LINE  THROUGH  A  CENTURY — BIRTH — 
BAPTISM — CHILDHOOD— HARDIHOOD — PUGILISM  AN?  POLAR  PRAC- 
TICE— SCHOOL-CRAMPS — JUVENILE  POLYTECHNICS — DRIFT  OP  NA- 
TURE UNDER   DIRECTION   OP  PROVIDENCE. 

Elisiia  Kent  Kane  derived  his  blood  from  the  com- 
mon source,  immediately  through  the  Kanes  and  Van 
Rensselaers  of  New  York,  and  the  Grays  and  Leipers 
of  Pennsylvania. 

His  family,  in  all  branches,  dates  American  for  more 
than  a  century.  The  Kane  blood  is  Irish,  the  Van  Rens- 
selaer Low  Dutch,  the  Gray  English,  and  the  Leiper 
Scotch.  A  hundred  years  ago  his  male  ancestors  of  these 
names  were  respectively  Episcopalians,  Dutch  Reformed, 
Quakers,  and  Presbyterians. 

His  greal>grandfather,  John  Kane,  who  came  from 
Ireland  about  the  year  1756,  married  Miss  Kent,  a 
daughter  of  the  Reverend  Elislia  Kent,  by  unbroken 
descent  and  dissent  a  Puritan  from  the  earliest  settle- 
meno  of  Massachusetts.     His  other  great-grandmother, 

28 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


Gray,  varied  the  faith  of  the  family  with  all  that  was 
practically  best  and  most  beneficent  in  the  religion  of  the 
Moravians.  This  lady,  born  Martha  Ibbetson,  was  in 
London  in  1749,  under  the  tuition  of  an  apothecary-sur- 
geon. After  acquiring  so  much  of  his  art  as  qualified 
her  for  the  Lady-Bountiful  life  to  which  she  had  devoted 
herself,  she  emigrated  to  America.  A  year  after  her 
arrival  in  Philadelphia,  she  married  George  Gray,  of 
Gray's  Ferry,  a  man  of  great  wealth,  a  liberal  gentleman, 
and  a  zealous  Whig.  He  was  born  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  but  at  the  earliest  period  of  the  Revo- 
lution he  was  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  and  a 
representative  of  the  resistance  party  in  the  Assembly 
of  the  Province.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  he  appears, 
as  a  delegate  from  the  county  of  Philadelphia,  at  "  a  meet- 
ing consisting  of  the  officers  and  privates  of  the  fifty- 
three  battalions  of  the  Associators  of  the  Colony  of 
Pennsylvania,  held  at  Lancaster,  to  choose  two  brigadier- 
generals  to  command  the  battalions  and  forces  of  the 
Province."  He  was,  of  course,  among  the  proscribed  by 
the  British  authorities. 

Mrs.  Gray  was  as  decided  a  patriot  as  her  husband, 
and  as  actively  devoted  to  the  service. 

During  the  occupation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British 
forces,  the  sick  and  wounded  American  prisoners,  amount- 
ing at  one  time  to  nine  hundred  men,  were  confined  in 
the  old  Walnut  Street  prison.  They  were  not  treated 
as  prisoners  of  war,  but  as  rebels  under  arrest.  Hunger, 
thirst,  cold,  and  every  species  of  personal  abuse  and 


HIS    ANCESTORS. 


15 


indignity  which  the  malignity  and  neglect  of  a  brutal 
subordinate  could  inflict  upon  them,  made  their  condition 
intolerable.     Mrs.  Gray  constantly  ministered  to  their 
wants,— enduring  the  insolence  and  overcoming  the  resist- 
ance of  their  keeper,  as  only  a  woman  of  high  character 
and  determined  zeal  could  meet  and  manage  such  diffi- 
culties.    Food  and  medicines  were  supplied  at  her  own 
expense;  and  the  indispensable  services  of  the  surgeon 
and  nurse,  for  which  she  was  so  well  qualified,  were  ren- 
dered by  her  own  hands.     Her  courage  and  constancy 
overcame  all  resistance  that  could  be  offered  to  her  as  a 
benefactress.     The  baffled  officer  of  the  prison  charged 
her  with  being  a  spy,  and  she  was  ordered  to  leave  the 
city.     She  appealed  to  Lord  Howe:  he  withdrew  the 
order,  and  she  held  her  ground  till  the  British  evacuated 
the  city.     The  American  officers  who  had  witnessed  and 
experienced  her  generous  services  to  the  prisoners  acknow- 
ledged them  in  the  strongest  terms  of  gratitude  and  admi- 
ration.'^'     Afterward,  when  the  tide  of  affairs  turned,  and 
British  prisoners  needed  her  aid,  it  was  given  as  freely 
and  effectually  as  she  had  before  ministered  to  the  suffer- 
ings of  her  own  party.     Through  all  these  labors  and 


*  "We,  the  subscribers,  officers  in  the  American  army,  now  prisoners 
in  Philadelphia,  think  it  our  duty  in  this  manner  to  testify  the  obliga- 
tions we  are  under,  and  the  respect  we  entertain  for  Mrs.  Martha  Gray, 
wife  of  George  Gray,  Esq.,  for  her  unwearied  attention  to  the  distresses 
of  the  numerous  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  confinement,  supplying 
them,  at  a  great  expense,  with  food  and  raiment,  constantly  visiting  and 
alleviating,  by  her  attention,  their  wretched  condition,  and  in  every  cir- 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


trials  of  heroic  benevolence,   her  daughter   Elizabeth, 
afterward  Mrs.  Thomas  Leiper,  was  her  chief  assistant. 

Of  Thomas  Leiper,  it  is  recorded,  in  the  chronicles  of 
the  times,  that  he  was  1st  Sergeant  of  the  Ist  City 
Troop  of  Cavalry  raised  for  the  Continental  service;  that, 
as  treasurer  and  quartermaster,  he  carried  the  first  money 
from  Congress  to  General  Washington,  then  on  the 
Heights  of  Boston;  that  he  was  at  the  side  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief at  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Monmouth, 
Princeton,  New  Brunswick,  and  Brandywine,  and  in  the 
field  generally,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  War 
of  Independence. 

Warmly  attached  to  Robert  Morris,  and  ardent  in  the 
support  of  his  financial  policy,  he  was  one  of  those 
patriots  who,  each  lending  one-third  of  his  personal 
estate  to  the  old  Bank  of  North  America,  enableu  him  to 
make  provision  for  the  march  of  the  army  to  Yorktown. 


cumstance  interesting  herself  in  their  behalf.     As  we  have  been  eye- 
witnesses to  the  above,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands. 

Philadelphia,  January  2%th,  1778. 

John  Hannum, 

Chester  Co.  3Iilitia. 

Pers'n  Frazer, 

Lieut.  Col.  bth  Fenna.  Regt. 

Luke  Marbury, 

Col.  4th  Bat.  Maryland  Militia 

W.  Taliaferro, 

Lieut.  Col.  Aih  Virginia  Battal. 

0.    TOWLES, 

Major  6th  Virginia  Battal." 


HIS    ANCESTORS. 


17 


When  the  two  great  parties  of  1799  were  forming,  he 
became  the  partisan,  as  he  had  long  been  the  personal 
friend,  of  Mr.  Jeflferson.  In  Mr.  Jefferson's  letters  to  Mr. 
Leiper  there  is  a  remarkably  free  communication  of  opi- 
nion and  feeling  upon  all  the  political  questions,  foreign  and 
domestic,  of  the  time.  Their  correspondence  was  constant 
and  frequent  until  the  death  of  Leiper,  which  occurred  in 
1822.  He  was  long  President  of  the  Common  Council  of 
Philadelphia,  invariably  the  head  of  the  Democratic  elec- 
toral ticket  for  Pennsylvania,  and,  by  prerogative  of  his 
party  position,  the  chairman  of  all  the  large  Democratic 
meetings  and  conventions  of  the  city  and  State.  But  he 
never  held  any  office  of  emolument, — always  refusing 
such  appointments  for  himself  and  his  family.  At  the  end 
of  the  Revolutionary  War  he  and  his  troop  accepted,  for  all 
their  services  in  the  field,  a  letter  of  thanks  from  General 
Washington.  Their  money  pay  they  transferred  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital,  to  found  a  lying-in  department, 
and,  by  this  noble  donation  of  their  toil-and-danger-earned 
funds,  that  charity  was  established. 

John  K.  Kane,  son  of  John  Kane  and  Miss  Van  Rens- 
selaer of  New  York,  was  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
bar  when  he  married  Jane  Leiper,  and  has  been  judge  of 
the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania  since  1845. 

Mrs.  Kane's  blood  descends  from  Martha  Ibbetson  and 
George  Gray,  through  Thomas  Leiper  and  their  daughter, 
and  Elisha  was,  emphatically,  her  son. 


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ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


He  was  born  on  the  3d  of  February,  1820,  in  Walnut 
Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth,  Philadelphia. 

He  was  the  eldest  of  seven  children.  Three  brothers 
and  a  sister,  his  father  and  mother,  survive  him. 

He  was  baptized  in  his  infancy,  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  his  parents  are  members,  Elisha  Kent, 
after  the  old  Puritan  clergyman  of  Massachusetts. 

He  went  through  the  diseases  and  the  training  of  in- 
fancy vigorously,  having  the  clear  advantage  of  that 
energy  of  nerve  and  that  sort  of  twill  in  the  muscular 
texture  which  give  tight  little  fellows  more  size  than  they 
measure,  and  more  weight  than  they  weigh. 

His  frame  was  admirably  fitted  for  all  manner  of  ath- 
letic exercises,  and  his  impulses  kept  it  well  up  to  the 
limits  of  its  capabilities,  daring  and  doing  every  thing 
within  the  liberties  of  boy-life  with  an  intent  seriousness 
of  desperation  which  kept  domestic  rule  upon  the  stretch, 
and  threatened,  as  certainly  as  usual  with  boys  whose 
only  badness  is  their  boldness,  to  bring  down  everybody's 
gray  hairs  in  sorrow,  &c.  It  was  not  the  monkey  mirth- 
fulness  nor  the  unprincipled  recklessness  of  childhood 
that  he  was  chargeable  with,  but  something  more  of  pur- 
pose and  tenacity  in  exacting  deference  and  enforcing 
equity  than  is  usually  allowed  to  boyhood,  i  xrritrary 
authority  he  was  a  regular  little  rebel.  Theie  v/a,s  nothing 
of  passive  submission  in  his  temper,  and  he  did  not  over- 
lay it  with  the  little  hypocrisies  of  good-boy  policy.  He 
was  fi'  r;  lutely  fearless,  and,  withal,  given  to  indignation 
q.-itc  vy  to  liis  own  measurement  of  wrongs  and  insults. 


PUGILISTIC    FEATS. 


19 


and  he  had  a  pair  of  Uttle  fiwts  that  worked  with  the 
steam-power  of  passion  in  the  administration  of  distribu- 
tive justice,  which  he  charged  himself  with  executing  at 
all  hazards.  In  right  of  primogeniture,  he  was  protector 
to  his  younger  brothers,  and  was  not  yet  nine  years 
old  when  he  assumed  the  office  with  all  its  duties  and 
dangers. 

At  school,  about  this  time,  with  a  brother  two  years 
younger  under  his  care,  the  master  ordered  his  protege  up 
for  punishment.  Elisha  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  inter- 
posed with  a  manner  which  had  rather  more  of  demand 
than  petition  in  it,  "Don't  whip  him,  he's  such  a  little 
fellow — ^whip  me."  The  master,  understanding  this  to 
be  mutiny,  which  really  was  intended  for  a  fair  compro- 
mise, answered,  "I'll  whip  you  too,  sir."  Strung  for  en- 
durance, the  sense  of  injustice  changed  his  mood  to 
defiance,  and  such  fight  as  he  was  able  to  make  quickly 
converted  the  discipline  into  a  fracas,  and  Elisha  left  the 
school  with  marks  that  required  explanation. 

When  he  was  ten  years  old,  four  or  five  neighbour 
boys,  all  bigger  than  himself,  who  had  climbed  upon  the 
roof  of  a  back  building  in  his  father's  yard,  were  amusing 
themselves  by  shooting  putty-wads  from  blow-guns  at  the 
girls  below.  Elisha,  attracted  to  the  spot  by  the  outcry 
of  the  injured  party,  promptly  undertook  the  defence, 
and  in  the  firm  tone  of  a  young  gentleman  ofiended, 
required  them  to  desist  and  leave  the  premises ;  but  he 
of  course,  was  instantly  answered  by  a  broadside  levelled 
at  himself.    Fired  at  the  outrage,  he  clutched  the  rain- 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


ypout,  and  climbed  like  a  young  tiger  to  the  roof,  and 
wa8  among  them  before  they  could  realize  the  practica- 
bility of  the  feat;  and  then  he  had  them,  on  terms  even 
enough  for  a  handsoine  settlement  of  the  case.  The  roof 
was  steep  and  dangerous  to  his  cowed  antagonists,  but 
safe  to  his  better  balance  and  higher  courage,  and  they 
were  at  his  mercy ;  for  no  one  could  help  another,  and  he 
was  more  than  a  match  for  the  best  of  them,  in  a  posi- 
tion where  peril  of  a  terrible  tumble  \v  as  among  the  risks 
of  resistance.  Forthwith  he  went  at  them  seriatim,  till, 
severally  and  singly,  he  had  cuffed  them  to  the  full  mea- 
sure of  their  respective  deservings.  But  not  satisfied 
with  inflicting  punishment,  he  exacted  penitence  also, 
and  he  proceeded  to  drag  each  of  them  in  turn  to  the 
edge  of  the  roof,  and,  holding  him  there,  demanded  an 
explicit  apology.  Before  he  had  finished  putting  the 
whole  party  through  this  last  form  of  purgation,  little 
Tom,  who  had  witnessed  the  performance  from  the  pave- 
ment below,  greatly  terrified  by  the  imminent  risk  of  a 
fall,  which  v^^ould  have  broken  a  neck  or  two  mayhap, 
called  out,  "Come  down,  Elisha!  oh,  'Lisho.  come  down!" 
Elisha  answered  the  appeal  in  the  spirit  of  the  engage- 
ment, "  No.  Tom,  they  an't  done  apologizing  yet." 

lie  took  no  "  sauce"  from  anybody.  lie  couldn't  under- 
stand why  he  should,  and  it  was  hard  and  risky  to  make 
him  know  that  he  must;  for  he  was  equally  fertile  in 
expedients  and  bold  in  execution.  On  the  wharf,  one 
day,  when  he  was  not  yet  twelve  years  old,  an  insolent 
ruffian,  big  enough  and  wicked  enough  to  break  every 


EARLY    CHARACTERISTICS. 


21 


bone  in  the  lad's  body,  aroused  his  wrath  by  an  intolera- 
ble piece  of  rudeness.  Resistance  and  redress  seemed 
impossible,  but  submission  was  completely  so.  He  saw 
his  opportunity, — a  rope  fixed  to  the  end  of  a  crane 
hung  within  his  reach,  and  the  ruffian  stood  fairly  in  the 
track  of  its  swing.  He  seized  it,  and  running  backward 
till  it  was  tightly  stretched,  he  made  a  bound  which  gave 
him  the  momentum  of  a  sling,  and  planted  his  knees  like 
a  shot  in  the  fellow's  face,  levelling  him  handsomely, 
and  with  a  spring  he  put  himself  under  the  protection  of 
the  bystanders,  who  had  witnessed  and  admired  the  per- 
formance. 

S(/  Elisha  earned  the  charactc "  of  a  bad  boy,  while  he 
was,  in  fact,  exercising  and  cultivating  the  spirit  of  a 
brave  one.  Goody-good  people,  very  naturally,  did  not 
understand  him  then, — they  do  now.  Elisha  never 
reformed:  he  just  persisted  until  he  performed  what  was 
in  him  to  do.  The  rjlls,  so  tortuous  and  turbulent  near 
the  springs,  rolled  themselves  into  a  river  in  time,  and 
regulated  their  rush  without  losing  it. 

It  is  said  that  "education  forms  the  common  mind:" 
it  is  more  certain  that  "as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree^s 
inclined."  This  boy,  at  least,  was  the  father  of  the  man. 
It  was  utterly  impossible  to  fashion  his  young  life  by  ve- 
neering it  with  the  proprieties  which  are  supposed  to 
shape  it  into  goodness.  He  may  not  have  known  what 
he  should  be  in  the  future,  1)ut  he  knew  what  he  must  be 
in  the  present,  and  he,  happily^  did  not  limber  himself  b}' 
forced  compliances.     Difficult,  daring,  and  desperate  en- 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


terprises,  not  only  useless,  but  recklessly  wild,  under  the 
common  standard  of  judgment,  worked  in  him  like  one 
possessed.  At  ten  years  of  age  he  studied  the  weather, 
watched  the  moon,  and  carefully  scanned  the  opportunities 
afforded  by  the  nights  for  scaling  fences,  clambering  over 
out>houses,  and  getting  into  the  tree-tops,  all  round  the 
square  that  was  over]  oked  by  his  dormitory.  Wherever 
a  cat  could  go,  he  would ;  and  escapes  from  the  sky-light, 
by  way  of  the  kitchen-roof  and  through  the  trap-door  to 
the  yard,  and  thence  abroad  to  enjoy  an  unwatched  and 
unmolested  rambling,  clambering  and  tumbling,  afforded 
him  a  seriously  high-toned  delight.  He  took  nobody 
into  his  confidence  except  his  bed-fellow;  but  this  was 
voluntary  and  generous,  for  he  was  bent  upon  training 
him  for  similar  achievements.  One  instance  will  illus- 
trate : — 

The  back-building  was  two  stories  high,  the  front  three, 
and  the  houses  which  flanked  the  kitchen  were,  also, 
three  stories.  To  relieve  the  draft  of  the  kitchen  chim- 
ney from  the  eddy  of  the  buildings  which  embayed  it,  it 
was  carried  up  like  a  shaft  sixteen  feet  above  the  roof 
There  it  stood  at  the  gable,  in  provokingly  tempting  alti- 
tude, and  tlie  point  that  concerned  our  little  hero  was, 
how  to  get  to  the  top  of  it? 

"How  should  he  get  to  the  top!  Bless  me,"  exclaims 
some  considerate  personage  of  correct  habits  and  cautious 
judgments,  "why  should  he?"  Elisha  would  have  an- 
swered him,  "  I  must,  and  I  wonder  why  I  should  not  ?" 
W'ry  certainly  there  would  have  been  two  opinions  on 


POLAR    PRACTICE. 


23 


the  matter,  if  any  wise  body  had  been  consulted.  But 
the  little  desperado  needed  no  advice.  The  thing  was  to 
be  done,  and  it  was  done.  It  required  some  engineering, 
but— it  was  all  the  better  for  that.  It  is  not  mere  muscle 
and  hardihood  that  will  carry  a  man  to  the  North  Pole. 
He  must  have  some  science  and  some  tackling  along  with 
him;  and  the  boy  that  is  practising  upon  a  chimney-top 
for  arctic  service,  must  put  his  wits  to  work,  quite  as 
much  as  his  muscles  and  his  courage.  He  made  his  ob- 
servations and  his  calculations, — his  determination  was 
long  made.  The  preparations  were  perfected,  and  his 
younger  brother  taken  into  the  enterprise. 

When  all  in  the  house  were  asleep,  and  the  stars  gave 
just  light  enough  to  guide,  and  none  to  expose  the  per- 
formance, with  prevention  and  punishment  among  the 
chances,  the  two  little  fellows  left  their  bed,  and  descended 
the  roof  of  the  front  building  till  they  dropped  them- 
selves upon  that  of  the  kitchen.  Here  the  clothes-line,  pro- 
vidently stowed  away  during  the  day  for  the  purpose,  was 
lying  ready  in  coil,  with  a  stone  securely  tied  at  one  end. 

"  What  is  the  stone  for,  Elisha  ?" 

"  Wliy,  you  see,  Tom,  the  stone  is  a  dipsey.  I  call  it 
a  dipsey,  (a  young  science  of  exploration,  and  a  nomen- 
clature to  match,  already,)  because  I'm  going  to  throw  it 
into  the  ilue,  so  that  it  will  run  down  into  the  old  fur- 
nace, carrying  the  line  down  with  it,  and  then  I  can  slip 
down  and  fasten  it  there.  Now  for  a  heave.  The  chim- 
ney-top is  almost  too  high  for  me.  It  is  pretty  near 
twenty  feet,  I  should  think;  but  I'll  do  it." 


Ik 

VI 

i 

i 
X 


5 


24 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


'J 


Failures  to  reach  the  height,  then  failures  to  direct 
the  dip  of  the  falling  stone,  followed  in  long  succession; 
but  this  gave  practice,  and  practice  makes  perfect.  At 
last  one  throw  more  lucky  than  the  rest,  and  the  rumble 
in  the  chimney  and  the  run  of  the  line  announced  suc- 
cess. Down  through  the  trap-door  w^ent  Elisha,  and, 
after  securing  the  end  at  the  furnace,  he  asctjnded  to  the 
roof  again,  and  was  ready.  But  stop  a  little, — the  chim- 
ney is  a  very  narrow  stack;  it  stands  outside  of  the 
gable,  and  there  is  a  chance  that  the  climber  may  swing 
out  and  get  forty  or  fifty  feet  of  clear  air  between  him 
and  the  pavement  below.  This  must  be  cared  for;  and 
little  Tom  is  duly  instructed  and  pltmted  firmly,  wdth 
the  slack  of  the  rope  in  hand,  to  keep  Elisha  on  the 
right  side  of  the  chimney,  so  that  if  the  bricks  on  the 
edge  give  way  and  a  tumble  betide,  he  may  come  down 
all  safe  and  nice  upon  the  roof  All  these  arrangements 
made,  and  the  contingencies  so  well  provided  for,  the 
rope  is  seized,  the  feet  planted  against  the  chimney,  and, 
han'^.  over  hand,  up  goes  the  aspirant,  till  the  top  is 
within  reach;  but  the  perch  is  not  so  easiW  attained, 
even  when  the  full  height  of  the  stack  is  mastered.  One 
hand  on  a  top  brick  to  draw  himself  up  by  it,  and  it 
yields  in  its  loosened  bed!  That  won't  do.  With  a 
hard  strain  he  gets  his  elbow  over  the  edge,  and  so  much 
of  the  doubled  arm  within  for  a  good  broad  hold,  and 
then  daintily  and  carefully  wriggling  up  the  little  body, 
and  he's  up,  seated  on  the  top ! 

"  Oh,  Tom,  what  a  nice  place  this  is !     I'll  get  down 


I 


POLAR    PRACTICE. 


25 


into  the  flue  to  my  waist,  and  pull  you  up,  too.  Just 
make  a  loop  in  the  rope,  and  I'll  haul  you  in.  Don't  be 
afraid, — it  is  so  grand  up  here." 

But  the  strength  was  not  quite  equal  to  the  will ;  and 
Tom's  chance  had  to  be  surrendered. 

The  descent  was  about  as  dangerous,  though  not  quite 
as  difficult,  as  the  ascent.  And  then  all  that  remained 
was  to  hide  the  tracks,  which  required  another  descent 
to  the  basement,  a  thorough  washing  of  the  rop-^  to  re- 
move the  soot  of  the  chimney;  and  then,  as  the  business 
of  the  night  was  done,  to  bed  via  the  roof  and  sky- 
light again ;  and  a  bright,  happy  consciousness  on  awak- 
ing in  the  morning  that  he  had  done  it. 

His  child  history  is  full  of  this  sort  of  incidents. 
Through  them  all  runs  the  one  character  of  physical 
hardihood,  and  steady  tense  endeavour  for  doing  every 
thing  that  seemed  difficult  of  accomplishment,  without 
other  aim,  or  any  aim  at  all,  beyond  the  mere  doing. 

It  might  be  only  the  impulse  which  lifts  the  lark  into 
the  clouds  to  sing  her  morning  hymn,  and  leads  the 
chamois  to  the  dizziest  heights  of  the  Alps,  away  above 
the  region  where  he  finds  his  food ;  or  it  might  be  a  hor 
bitude  providentially  induced  and  adjusted  for  the  after 
work  of  his  adventurous  life.  Opinions  upon  such  points 
as  these  are  not  always  reason ;  and  reason  itself  is  not 
quite  capable  of  a  solution.  Only  those  who  have  the 
like  feeling  will  rightly  understand  it,  and  explanation 
would  not  explain  it  to  any  one  else. 

From  his  eighth  or  ninth  till  his  thirteenth  year  he 


•i.  ■ 

(i 

i 

i 

2 

X 

3 

5 


26 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


was  rather  an  unpromising  school-boy.  In  the  softened 
phrase  of  a  good  authority,  (the  family  physician,)  "  he 
manKested  no  extraordinary  love  of  learning."  His  mani- 
festations during  this  period  would  bear  a  still  severer 
judgment  under 'the  standard  which  exacts  devotion  to 
school  studies.  He  really  disliked  the  lessons  systemati- 
cally imposed  upon  him ;  and  he  was  not  given  to  sub- 
mission or  compromise,  nor  the  least  inclined  to  the 
shabby  dishonesty  of  seeming  and  dodging.  He  never 
complied  when  he  did  not  consent,  and  it  was  an  heroic 
integrity,  unbecoming  his  age  of  course,  that  made  him 
a  refractory  boy  first  and  a  noble  man  afterward,  when 
earnestness  and  honesty  became  more  seasonable.  His 
teacher  put  the  class  into  a  jumble  of  classic  text-books. 
Elisha,  decided  by  his  relish  perhaps,  perhaps  by  his 
judgment  against  the  assortment,  announced  his  repug- 
nance, and  supported  it  by  delinquency  in  study  and 
deficiency  at  rehearsal.  He  thought  he  could  not,  and 
he  said  he  would  not,  conform.  What  was  that  to 
the  teacher  ?  The  system  was  all  right,  and  the  order 
had  the  warrant  of  the  authorities,  and  of  what  conse- 
quence was  it  that  it  was  only  not  right  for  the  pupil  ? 
Many  ineu  have  many  minds,  but  many  boys  must  have 
only  one.  The  teacher  told  him  that  he  would  rather 
have  him  leave  the  school  than  stay  out  of  his  class. 
The  next  day  the  dissenter  took  his  seat  in  his  place, 
opened  at  the  lesson,  put  his  finger  on  it,  and  closed  the 
book!  His  mother  heard  the  complaint  against  him, 
and  exhorted  him  to  obedience.    Elisha  loved  his  mother 


SCHOOL-CRAMPS. 


27 


"with  his  whole  heart,  and  his  understanding  also;"  he 
went  through  a  struggle, — he  yielded.  For  one  week  he 
laboured  faithfully,  and  gained  great  credit  for  success. 
He  could  go  no  further ;  his  conclusion  was,  "  I  said  that 
I  would  not,  and  I  will  keep  my  promise.  Mother 
breaks  my  heart  about  it,  but  I  cannot  do  it." 

The  influence  of  his  example  was  not  good  for  the 
established  authority  of  the  system;  the  hypocrisy  of 
apparent  submission  would  have  answered  better  for 
that;  and  accordingly,  his  schools  and  teachers  were 
frequently  changed,  although  he  conciliated  the  favour 
of  his  teachers  generally  by  his  readiness  in  learning 
whatever  of  his  tasks  he  was  inclined  to,  and  always  by 
his  gallantry,  fine  spirit,  and  truthfulness. 

The  mistake  was  all  theirs.  It  was  the  period  that 
nature  had  assigned  for  the  growth  of  his  body  and  the 
education  of  his  physical  energies.  His  instincts  and 
his  necessities,  as  well  as  their  resulting  tastes,  were  in 
just  rebellion,  and  it  was  well  that  he  was  not  a  sacri- 
fice to  the  authorities. 

In  other  and  happier  directions  he  was  assiduous  in 
his  own  proper  education.  About  this  time  he  collected  a 
cabinet  of  minerals  which  is  still  preserved,  and  exploded 
any  number  of  chemicals  in  the  out-house,  where  he  tin- 
kered at  his  own  tuition  in  all  the  arts,  sciences,  and 
polytechnics  of  the  boy-system  of  self-culture.  His  stolen 
reading — all  boys  who  have  any  thing  in  them  ste.il  the 
reading  which  their  special  capacities  require — was 
Chemistry,  Robinson  Crusoe,  and  the  Pilgrim's  Progress. 


« 

n 

to 

V) 

i 

< 

i 

X 
i 

5 

5 


28 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


He  was  getting  ready,  intentionally  or  unconsciously, 
for  the  studies,  discoveries,  and  achievements  of  his  after 
life. 

We  propose,  therefore,  to  modify  the  received  report 
of  his  school-boy  character,  and  put  it : — He  manifested 
no  extraordinary  love  for  learning  the  lessons  set  him 
by  his  teachers.  Which  very  naturally  as  well  as 
justly  turns  the  point  of  the  judgment,  and  gives  it 
the  right  cutting  direction. 


I  I 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE     boy's    BATIXE    WITH    THE    BOOKS — HIS    STUDIES     AT    PLAY — 
RECONCILIATION   ON   HIS   OWN   TERMS,  AND   AT  WORK  WITH  A  WILL 

— HIS  COLLEGIATE  COURSE CIVIL  ENOINEERINQ — SYSTEM    SUITING 

THE  SUBJECT — DANGEROUS  ILLNESS — SELF-CULTURE,  ITS  LIMITS 
AND  ITS  AUTHORITIES — LIFE  IN  A  NEW  LIGHT — THE  STUDY  OP  MEDI- 
CINE— ^A  STUDENT  AT  BLOCKLEY — CHARACTER  AT  TWENTY-ONE — 
CELIBACY,  AND  A  REASON  FOR  IT. 

The  name  of  Elisha  K.  Kane  has  passed  into  history, 
the  history  of  science  and  heroic  adventure.  The  youth 
of  his  countrymen  desire  to  know  him  personally,  inti- 
r^iately.  There  is  a  lesson  in  his  life  for  them.  Hero- 
-nrship  is  a  form  of  devotional  faith  which  may  or  may 
■ :.  vield  its  best  fruits  to  the  worshipper:  the  spirit 
j^cnerous  emulation  must  work  in  him  to  produce 
them,  and  for  this  he  needs  the  directory  of  the  facts 
and  influences  which  grew  his  model  into  greatness. 

His  father,  a  scholar,  a  lawyer,  and  a  literateur, 
systematic  in  study,  and  keen  in  the  pursuit  of  all  use- 
ful and  elegant  attainments,  despaired  of  Elisha's  future 
when  the  lad  was  thirteen.  He  told  him  then,  that  he 
must  choose  between   labour   and  learning  promptly. 

2B 


V) 
02 


i 

X 

N 

a 


80 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


Elisha  had  already  chosen  both,  and  both  together ;  but 
his  father  had  not  found  the  college  to  suit  him.  Here 
lay  the  whole  difference  between  them,  and  neither  of 
them  understood  it.  The  boy  had  not  a  vice  or  a  fault 
that  could  spoil  the  man ;  but  he  had  scarcely  an  incli- 
nation that  promised  success  in  the  life  designed  for 
him.  There  was  riding  at  break-neck  speed  to  be  done; 
trees  and  rocks  to  climb;  pebbles  to  pick;  dogs  to  train; 
chemistry,  geology,  and  geography  to  explore,  with  his 
eyes  and  fingers  on  the  facts ;  sketching,  whittling,  and 
cobbling  to  do,  with  other  heroics  of  muscle  and  mind — 
all  mixed  in  a  medley  of  matter  and  system,  for  which 
there  was  no  promising  precedent,  and  no  prophecy  of 
good.  Withal,  he  was  constitutionally  averse  (he  was 
not  exactly  incapable  of  any  thing)  to  continuous  allotted 
labour — so  many  hours,  so  many  things  to  do. 

It  was  not  until  his  sixteenth  year  that  he  began  to 
feel  the  deficiencies  of  his  formal  education,  and  addressed 
himself  vigorously  to  the  work  of  repairing  them.  The 
interval  of  two  or  three  years  waa  occupied  with  irregu- 
lar and  ineffective  efforts  to  prepare  himself  for  college. 
His  health  had  given  way,  he  was  ill  at  ease,  and  he 
was  on  bad  terms  with  his  stated  engagements. 

Boys'  sorrows  do  not  often  break  boys'  hearts ;  just  as 
the  crudities  which  they  cram  into  their  stomachs  do 
not  give  them  the  dyspepsia.  Ephemeral  despairs  and 
short  fitd  of  indigestion  relieve  them  of  their  troubles  of 
both  kinds ;  for  they  are  not  very  susceptible  of  chronic 
complaints.     But  there   are   some   fourteen  year  olds. 


AT    WORK   WITH    A    WILL. 


31 


ler;  but 
I.  Here 
lither  of 
ir  a  fault 
an  incli- 
gned  for 
be  done; 
to  train ; 
with  his 
ling,  and 
[  mind — 
or  which 
phecy  of 
(he  was 
i  allotted 


began  to 
iddressed 
a.  The 
h  irregu- 
'  college. 
I,  and  he 


;  just  as 
Qachs  do 
mirs  and 
Dubles  of 
f  chronic 
ear   olds, 


who  have  character  enough  to  suffer  by  their  mental 
conflicts.  I  wish  Doctor  Kane  had  himself  charted 
these  first  encounters  of  his  with  the  hummocks  and 
icebergs  of  his  life-voyage.  It  would  serve,  I  think,  for 
guidance  in  education,  as  well  as  his  map  of  the  polar 
regions  answers  to  direct  geographical  adventure  and 
insure  its  success. 

But,  like  a  brave  fellow,  he  "  buckled  down  to  it,"  and 
made  such  progress  in  the  languages,  mathematics,  and 
drawing  as  made  him  ready  for  collegiate  study  in 
general  literature,  and  civil  engineering  especially,  which 
was  at  this  time  the  profession  of  his  own  choice. 

His  father  had  carried  him  to  New  Haven,  with  the 
intention  of  entering  him  at  Yale;  but  there  he  dis- 
covered the  first  symptoms  of  that  heart  disease,  from 
which  he  was  never  afterward  entirely  free;  and  besides 
this,  Elisha  was  behind  in  certain  studies  which  the 
ritual  of  Yale  prescribed,  and,  at  the  same  time,  so 
much  in  advance  in  the  natural  sciences  of  the  college 
course,  that  a  good  year  must  be  sacrificed  if  he  entered 
under  the  rules;  and  his  father  very  wisely  decided 
against  Yale  under  these  conditions. 

The  University  of  Virginia  allows  the  pupil  an  elec- 
tion among  its  courses  of  study,  insisting  only  upon  a 
certain  basis  of  mathematics  and  classic  literature. 
Here  was  the  freedom  required;  and  Ehsha,  in  his  six- 
teenth year,  glad  to  avail  himself  of  a  happy  exemption 
from  arbitrary  routine,  went  ardently  at  the  work  to 
which  ho  was  appointed. 


i 

V) 

i 

lid 
\id 

< 

z 

ti 

K 

a 
3 


32 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


'm 


Now  that  he  was  in  "  the  right  place  for  the  right 
man,"  he  knew  how  to  accommodate  himself  to  the 
method  of  necessary  rule,  and  was  well  inclined  to 
find  his  own  private  pathway  quietly  through  the 
fields  of  formal  study.  He  made  very  fair  headway 
in  Latin,  Greek,  and  mathematics.  What  he  got  he 
kept,  for  his  memory  in  all  things  had  the  special  char 
racter  given  to  that  faculty  by  intenseness  of  impression. 
He  did  not  take  a  degree  here — he  was  not  a  candidate; 
but  the  learning  of  the  class-books  stuck  in  him  so  as  to 
stick  out  in  his  style,  almost  to  pedantry :  it  is  the  one 
fault  in  the  diction  of  his  first  Arctic  book.  He  had,  in 
fact,  a  wonderful  aptitude  for  language.  Whenever  he 
talked,  I  must  not  say  lazily,  but  less  intently,  he 
coined  words  most  incautiously,  but  with  a  facility 
wondrously  happy;  and  they  were  alive  with  Latin, 
Greek,  French,  and  grammar.  His  English  was  capital 
always,  when  he  was  thinking  closely ;  and  he  was  so 
nicely  critical  when  he  cared  to  be  so,  that  it  was 
evident  enough  an  eminent  linguist  had  been  spoiled  to 
make  up  a  man. 

During  his  year  and  a  half  at  the  Virginia  University 
he  devoted  himself  specially  to  the  study  of  the  natural 
sciences  under  Professor  Rogers,  and  of  mathematics 
under  Mr.  Bonnycastle.  Professor  Rogers  was  at  the 
time  engaged  upon  the  geology  of  the  Blue  Mountains. 
Young  Kane  seized  this  opportunity  for  exploring  nature 
and  resolving  her  mysteries  by  the  aid  of  science.  In 
this   engagement  chemistry  and    mineralogy,  with   a 


;  right 
to  the 
led  to 
h  the 
ladway 
got  he 
i\  chor 
:ession. 
didate ; 
10  as  to 
he  one 
had,  in 
!ver  he 
tly,  he 
facility 
Latin, 
capital 
was  so 
it  was 
Qiled  to 

Lversity 
natural 
ematics 
at  the 
mtains. 
;  nature 
ce.  In 
with   a 


V) 


Lb 


2 


3 
5 


1 


V) 

< 
< 

2 

a 

I- 
5 


FAC-SIMILES     of     COLO     MCDAH, 

Vrftfnlfd  tn  Dr.  Kane  hy  the  Kni/ul  Gtmiiruphiail  Snciely,  and  by  llw.  liriluth  Gm'trnmfnt 


t 


mi 
tu 

sel 
thi 
hi] 

lie 
mi 
en 
sti 
Ai 

he 
we 
pre 
nai 
we 
wh 
lefi 
wr 

Gill 


thf 
we 
the 


for 


no 


DANGEROUS    ILLNESS. 


33 


margin  of  physical  geography,  offered  him  the  oppor- 
tunity for  pushing  the  studies  which  his  heart  was 
set  on;  and  it  gave  freedom  besides  for  indulging 
that  importunity  of  muscular  activity  which  possessed 
him. 

At  the  examinations  which  closed  the  terms  of  study 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  progress  in  chemistry, 
mineralogy,  and  the  other  branches  which  make  up  an 
engineer's  qualifications.  How  well  he  profited  by  these 
studies  is  amply  attested  by  his  pubhshed  journals  of 
Arctic  exploration. 

Civil  engineering  was  the  drift  of  all  the  preparation 
he  was  now  making.  The  traveller  and  the  naturalist 
were  striving  in  him  so  strongly,  that  his  choice  of  a 
profession  was  determined  by  these  necessities  of  his 
nature.  But  his  studies,  pressed  with  too  much  ardor, 
were  interrupted  by  an  attack  of  acute  rheumatism,  of 
which  the  symptoms  had  shown  themselves  before  he 
left  home,  and  his  father  was  obliged  to  bring  him  away 
wrapped  up  in  a  blanket,  travelling  in  pain  and  diffi- 
culty till  he  reached  home,  where  he  was  long  danger- 
ously and  hopelessly  ill. 

We  are  now  at  a  resting  place,  and  cannot  do  better 
than  survey  the  ground  which  we  have  traversed;  for 
we  must  understand  the  boy  if  we  would  comprehend 
the  man. 

His  was  just  the  intellect  to  distinguish  between  the 
formalities  and  the  essentials  of  an  education.  Ho  had 
no  time,  (let  this  excuse  all  that  was  wrong  in  his 


lb. 

(a 

V) 

ft 
4 

< 

2 

a 
r 

t 

5 
3 


34 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


refractoriness,)  he  had  no  relish,  (this  justifies  him  if  the 
laws  of  harmony  have  a  rightful  rule,)  for  things  not 
pertinent  or  helpful  to  his  purpose.    He  was  capable  of 
painting,  music,  or  helles-letters  authorship,  and  he  could 
have  beaten  De  Foe  in  his  own  line  of  writing.     For  all 
these  he  had  the  relish  that  goes  with  large  capability ; 
but,  like  mathematics  to  Wesley,  they  were  not  to  the 
purpose  of  his  life.     He  was  strongly  given  to  specula- 
tive  inquiry,  but   not  at  all  disposed  to  convert   the 
impulse  into  a  mere  intellectual  observatory.     He  could 
not  lobby,  he   must  labor  productively,  through  life. 
Conventional  college  studies  fell  with  him  into  the  same 
category  with  the  esthetics  of  literature  and  philosophy; 
they  were  judged  and  settled  by  their  serviceableness  to 
his  actual  uses.     So,  he  was  not  a  Bachelor,  nor  a  Master 
of  Arts,  nor  a  Doctor  in  Law  or  Philosophy ;  but  he  v^^as 
none  the  less  a  Monk  of  intellectual  industry,  but  all 
the  more  so. 

Where  could  he  find  a  school  for  his  training  and  a 
diploma  for  his  attainments?  There  is  no  faculty  of 
Discovery  to  prescribe  its  studies  and  authenticate  its 
(|ualifications,  except  the  shut  world  of  the  unknown 
which  borders  and  embosoms  the  realm  of  established 
science,  and  the  open  world  of  opinion.  They  have 
given  him  his  diploma, — a  Master  in  Scientific  Enter- 
prise. 

It  has  been  said  that  "  the  self-taught  has  a  fool  for  his 
teacher."  That,  however,  depends  upon  whether  he  is  a 
fool  or  not;  and  the  maxim,  true  enough  in  general,  nuist 


SELF-CULTURE. 


35 


be  ai)plied  as  Ophelia  distributed  her  rosemary  and  rue, 
to  be  worn  "with  a  difference." 

Sir  Humphry  Davy  said  that  he  considered  it  as  fortu- 
nate that  he  was  left  much  to  himself  as  a  child,  and  put 
under  no  particular  plan  of  study.      But  Sir  Humphry 
had  genius,  and  had  the  command  of  it.     It  never  made 
a  fool  of  him;   and  his  common  sense  worked   like  a 
drudge  under  its  guidance.     Sir  Walter  Scott  says,  that 
"the  best  part  of  every  man's  education  is  that  which 
he  gives  himself."     This  is  universally  true.     Sir  Benja- 
min Brodie,  more  exactly  to  our   purpose,    "willingly 
admits  that  among  those  whose  intellect  is  of  the  higher 
order,  there  are  many  who  would  ultimately  accomplish 
greater  things,  if  in  early  life  they  wore  left  more  to  their 
own  meditations  and  inventions  than  is  the  case  among 
the  more  highly  educated  classes  of  the  community."   He 
adds:  "A  high  education  is  a  leveller,  which,  while  it 
tends  to  improve  ordinary  minds  and  to  turn  idleness 
into  industry,  may,  in  some  instances,  have  the  effect  of 
preventing   the   full   expansion   of  genius.     The   great 
amount  of  acquirement  rendered  necessary  by  the  higher 
class  examinations,  as  they  are  now  conducted,  not  only 
in  the  universities,  but  in  some  other  institutions,  while 
it  strengthens  the  power  of  learning,  is  by  no  means 
favorable  to  the  higher  faculty  of  reflection." 

Dr.  Newman  is  even  more  bold.  Self-educated  persons, 
he  holds,  "are  likely  to  have  more  thought,  more  mind, 
more  philosophy,  than  those  earnest  but  ill-used  persons 
who  are  forced  to  load  their  mhids  with  a  score  of  subjects 


ft 


In 

V) 

i 

< 

z 

0! 

X 

K 

0, 


36 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


against  an  examination;  who  have  too  much  on  their 
hinds  to  indulge  themselves  in  thinking  or  investigation. 

How  much  better  is  it  for  the  active  and  thoughtful 

intellect,  where  such  is  to  be  found,  to  eschew  the  college 
and  university  altogether,  than  to  submit  to  a  drudgery 
so  ignoble,  a  mockery  so  con'     ■    Mousi" 

Here  are  authorities  of  tlu'  ,aest  rank,  and  points 
even  stronger  than  our  case  demands;  for  young  Kane 
very  sufficiently  availed  himself  of  the  help  of  the  schools, 
took  all  their  advantages,  and  kept  his  peculiarity  so  well 
within  svstem  as  to  corroborate  and  advance  his  own 
drift,  but  without  surrendering  its  freedom  or  abatmg  its 
force.  Whatever  the  schools  could  teach  for  his  use  he 
learned,  and  he  never  lost  it,  because  he  did  not  bolt,  but 
digested  and  assimilated,  the  nutriment  provided. 

He  was  not  a  radical  non-conformist,  but  a  resolute 
striver  after  the  true  ends  of  all  study.  His  self-culture 
under  his  own  system  was  just  as  far  from  rebellion  in 
fact  as  it  was  from  submission  in  form ;  and  so  he  grew 
in  strength,  and  in  favor  with  his  helpers.  This  is  the 
sort  of  self-culture  which  we  commend,  and  would  enforce 
by  the  example  of  his  great  success. 

He  left  the  Virginia  University,  as  we  have  seen,  dan- 
gerously ill.  This  was  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and  his 
collegiate  studies  were  at  an  end.  He  had  scarcely  arrived 
at  Philadelphia  when  his  disease  developed  itself  into  a 
very  bad  case  of  endo-carditis,— intlammation  of  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  heart-.  For  a  long  time  his  family 
despaired  of  his  life.    He  was  himself  persuaded  that  there 


LIFE    IN    A    NEW    LIGHT. 


0( 


was  no  hope  of  his  ever  making  himself  useful  or  honored 
among  men.  "The  doctors  tell  me,"  he  used  to  say, 
"that  if  I  throw  off  this  paroxysm,  I  may  live  a  month, 
or  perhaps  half  a  year;  but  they  know,  and  I  know,  that 
I  may  be  struck  down  in  half  an  hour."  When  he  was 
so  far  recovered  as  to  sit  up,  he  undenvent  paroxysms  of 
pain  and  suffocation  that  racked  his  slight  frame  to  the 
limit  of  its  strength ;  and  one  of  his  physicians  told  him 
that  an  incautious  movement  might  prove  fatal.  "  You 
may  fall,"  said  he,  "Elisha,  as  suddenly  as  from  a  mus- 
ket shot." 

This  was  the  period  of  a  new  birth  to  him.  Coasting 
the  Infinite  so  long  and  so  near,  it  opened  its  scenery  to 
the  eyes  of  his  spirit.  He  walked  in  its  light  thence- 
forth through  his  journey  to  the  end.  He  was  let  into 
his  own  inmost  life ;  he  got  hold  of  his  destiny,  and  he 
ever  after  governed  himself  conformably. 

He  was  at  one  with  himself  now,  and  knew  how  to 
conciliate  order  and  liberty,  to  obey  and  to  command,  to 
accept  the  help  of  system,  and  to  preserve  his  individual- 
ism under  it  without  conflict;  he  stood  ready  to  die,  but 
he  did  not  despair. 

After  a  long  struggle,  which  seemed  to  promise  no 
speedy  or  certain  conclusion,  his  father  saw,  without  the 
aid  of  medical  science, — what  mere  science  is  not  always 
quick  to  disci  .-er, — that  his  disease  was  no  longer  organic 
or  structural,  but  neuropathic  or  functional,  and  applied 
the  heroic  remedy.  "Elisha-,  if  you  must  die.  die  in  ihe 
harness."     A  thousand  times  after,  the  doctor  met  dan- 


%• 


i 

u. 

< 

H 

X 

K 
Q 


38 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


'i 


ger  and  faced  death  in  the  harness,  and  fought  his  way 

to  victory. 

He  rose  out  of  the  wreck  resolutely,  and  retrieved  his 
life,  in  a  strength  made  his  own  by  holding  it  in  fee  of 
chivalric  service.  This  is  the  simple  mystery  of  the 
man  through  his  whole  history.  There  is  nothing  else 
in  it  that  puzzles  our  judgments. 

He  recovered,  his  medical  attendant  says,  imperfectly, 
and  had,  all  his  life  after,  more  or  less  rheumatic  and 
cardiac  disease,  abated  somewhat,  perhaps,  while  he  was 
in  the  high  degrees  of  north  latitude,  by  the  incompati- 
bility of  these  affections  with  the  scurvy,  with  which  he 
was  deeply  tainted  in  his  last  Arctic  voyage. 

There  is  the  best  authority  for  the  opinion  that  his 
ailments  had  always  in  them  a  preponderant  character  of 
neuropathic  disturbance.  When  he  was  free,  or  compar 
ratively  free,  from  the  acute  form  of  his  rheumatic  com- 
plaint, his  nerves  were  tingling  and  rioting  with  irrita- 
tion. Add  the  susceptibility  and  distraction  of  this  con- 
stant besetment  to  the  under-tow  of  organic  disease,  and 
his  struggles  may  be  estimated,  but  only  by  those  who 
are  similarly  harassed,  and  similarly  resolute  in  subduing 
their  demon. 

It  helps  in  the  apprehension  of  his  vigour  of  spirit,  to 
fmd  him  steady  and  strong  in  will  and  action,  firm  in 
purpose,  and  unwavering  in  enterprise,  all  along  the 
years  of  assiduous  preparation,  as  well  as  during  the 
whole  period,  of  his  great  achievements.  A  brave  heart 
and  a  sound  brain  may  easily  master  the  mischiefs  which 


CHANGE    OF    PROFESSION. 


39 


they  ha /e  the  health  to  hold  at  bay;  but  when  these 
bulwarks  of  resistance  and  salient  points  of  enterprise 
are  themselves  shattered  by  the  enemy,  it  depends  upon 
the  spirit  with  which  they  are  manned  whether  the 
struggle  shall  be  successful.  Then  it  is  that  the  victory  is 
due  to  the  resolution  to  conquer  or  "  die  in  the  harness." 

Instead  of  fitfulness,  capriciousness,  and  valetudinar 
rianism,  our  young  hero  was  sedate,  earnest,  calm,  kind, 
gentle,  and  steadily  industrious. 

When  he  was  at  the  university,  while  the  life  in 
him  was  as  hopeful  as  it  was  earnest,  he  told  his  cousin 
that  he  had  "determined  to  make  his  mark  in  the 
world."  After  his  first  critical  attack,  with  death  con- 
stantly impending,  he  held  on  his  way  till  the  promise 
was  abundantly  fulfilled. 

From  whatever  impulse  he  then  spoke,  the  ambition 
of  his  after-life  was  of  that  kind  which  embraces  duty 
and  aims  at  service, — that  kind  which  seeks  power 
and  place  for  the  opportunities  they  give  for  heroic  and 
beneficent  uses.  To  such  the  good  Providence  intrusts 
the  well-being  of  the  world;  ?nd  such  as  are  in  this 
spirit  faithful  in  a  few  things  on  earth  shall  be  made 
rulers  over  many  in  heaven. 

The  imperfect  and  unpromising  convalescence  from 
the  attack  of  cardiac  disease  which  terminated  his  col- 
legiate studies,  in  the  judgment  of  his  friends,  made  the 
profession  of  an  engineer  altogether  impracticable.  Be- 
lieving that  he  was  and  would  be  brooding  over  the 
symptoms  of   his    complaint,   which  was    sure   to  be 


V) 

i 

14' 
< 

z 

u 

14 

0 


40 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


chronic,  they  recommended  the  profession  of  medicine, 
in  the  hope  that  he  would  be  happier,  or  less  unhappy, 
if  he  understood  and  could  manage  his  own  case. 

He  conformed  to  his  necessity,  and  in  his  nineteenth 
year  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  William  Harris,  of 
Philadelphia,  where  his  preceptor  reports  him  to  have 
"prosecuted  his  various  studies  with  so  much  zeal  that 
he  made  rapid  progress,  and  seemed  to  have  always 
before  his  eyes  the  pledge  which  he  made  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia." 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1840,  he  was  elected  (being 
an  undergraduate   and   not  yet    twenty-one  years   of 
age)  Resident  Physician  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital, 
Blockley,  and  entered  upon  duty  on  ihe  25th  of  the 
same  month.    Under  the  system  then  in  operation  in 
the  Lospital,  he  went  in  as  junior  to  Dr.  McPheeters. 
For  six  months  he  occupied  the  same  room  with  his 
principal.     Their  intimacy  was  close  and  their  friend- 
ship cordial.     Dr.  McPheeters  says  of  him,  that  "  at  that 
time  his  health  was  delicate  and  his  appearance  even 
puerile,  notwithstanding  he  was  within  a  few  months 
of  his   majority.      He   was  laboring  under   a   serious 
organic  affection  of  the  heart— dilatation  with  valvular 
disease,  wlach  gave  rise  to  a  very  loud  bruit  cle  soufflet, 
(bellows  sound,)  accompanied  by  the  most  tumultuous 
action   of  the   heart  from   any  violent  exertion.     He 
was  unable  to  sleep  in  a  horizontal  position,  but  was 
under  the  necessity  of  having  his  head  and  shoulders 
elevated,  almost  to  a  right  angle  with  his  body.     Ho 


STUDENT    AT    BLOCKLEY. 


41 


ledicine, 
mhappy, 

neteenth 
arris,  of 
to  have 
:eal  that 
I   always 

« 

}  Univer- 

d  (being 
years   of 
Hospital, 
h  of  the 
[•ation  in 
Pheeters. 
with  his 
ir  friend- 
"  at  that 
mce  even 
J  months 
a   serious 
.  valvular 
le  soKjfflet, 
Lmultuous 
tion.     He 
,  but  was 
shoulders 
lody.     Ho 


was  ful]y  aware  of  the  gravity  of  his  disease,  as  he  often 
remarked  to  me  that  he  never  closed  his  eyes  at  night 
in  sleep  without  feeling  conscious  that  he  might  die 
before  morning;  yet  this  consciousness  did  not  seem  to 
affect  his  spirits,  or  to  check  his  enthusiasm.  The 
habitual  contemplation  of  a  sudden  death  seemed  not  at 
ail  to  affect  the  buoyancy  of  his  spirits,  or  to  abate  the 
ardor  with  which  he  pursued  the  objects  of  his  ambition. 
I  have  always  thought  that  the  uncertain  §tate  of  his 
health  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  his  subsequent  course 
of  life,  and  the  almost  recldess  exposure  of  himself  to 
danger." 

"At  the  time  that  he  entered  the  hospital  he  had 
attended  one  course  of  lectures,  and  had  been  a  good 
student;  but,  as  a  matter  of  course,  he  was  little  ac- 
quainted with  the  practical  duties  of  the  profession. 
This,  however,  he  soon  acquired  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  in  the  hospital,  which  were  always  performed 
with  more  than  usual  fidelity  and  earnestness.  At  first 
his  extremely  youthful  aj)pearance  rather  subjected  hiia 
to  a  want  of  confidence  on  the  part  of  the  patients;  but 
his  dignity  of  character,  great  intelligence,  and  fidelity^ 
soon  overcame  all  obstacles  of  this  kind,  and  he  rapidly 
acquired  the  respect  and  confidence  both  of  his  associates 
and  patients.  I  regarded  him  from  the  first  as  a  young 
man  of  fine  talents,  of  more  than  ordinary  cultivation, 
and  remarkably  quick  perception,  accompanied  with  an 
ardent  devotion  to  the  pursuit  of  his  profession.  He  was 
an  habitual  student,  and  took  particular  interest  in  the 


k 

< 

< 

Z 

a 


42 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


numerous  iiont  mortem  oxiuuiiuitions  made  by  myj^elf  and 
others — indeed,  he  manifested  a  great  fondness  for  patho- 
logical investigations." 

In  the  spring  of  1841  Dr.  McPheeters  left  the  hospital, 
and  his  young  friend  and  junior  of  six  months'  standing, 
early  in  's  twenty-second  year,  and  still  an  under- 
graduate, became,  under  the  rule,  one  of  the  four  seniors 
resident,  who  had  the  general  charge  of  the  patients.  To 
the  system,  of  study  and  training  in  medicine,  especially 
as  theory  undergoes  the  correction  of  facts  in  hospital 
practice,  he  gave  his  consent,  and  he  went  through  it  as 
he  accomplished  every  thing  else  he  ever  gave  himself 
to  in  his  life, — something  better  than  the  best  of  his 
compeers. 

Passing  over,  for  the  present,  the  most  important 
part  of  Dr.  McPheeters'  contribution  to  these  reminis- 
cences, I  make  two  other  extracts,  that  we  may  have 
our  subject  before  us  as  he  stood  in  the  apprehension  of 
an  intimate  personal  and  professional  friend  during  half 
a  year  of  that  period  which  was  to  determine  his  destiny. 

"At  the  time  that  I  speak  of,"  continues  Dr. 
McPheeters,  "  Dr.  Kane  was  a  man  of  great  purity  of 
character.  Although  surrounded  by  temptations,  I  am 
not  aware  that  he  had  any  bad  habits;  indeed,  I  re- 
garded his  moral  character  as  above  reproach.  In  his 
filial  relations,  too,  his  conduct  was  peculiarly  exem- 
plary. I  have  always  admired  the  relations  which 
existed  between  Judge  (then  Mr.)  and  Mrs.  Kane  and 
their  children  as  I  witnessed  them  at  their  fireside,  as 


REASON    FOR    CELIBACY. 


43 


well  as  tlit'y  were  exhibited  in  the  character  and  con- 
duct of  Dr.  Kane.  His  parents  seemed  to  be  his 
confidential  friends  and  advisers.  The  relations  which 
subsisted  between  them  were  tender  and  alToctionatc, 
and  at  the  same  time  free  from  all  restraint  and  embar- 
rassment. This,  in  my  estimation,  added  greatly  to  the 
charm  of  Dr.  Kane's  character." 

An  anecdote  which  Dr.  McPheeters  furnishes  opens  a 
liftht  in  another  direction  into  the  mind  of  Doctor  Kane 
at  the  time,  and  prepares  us  on  this  point  for  his  future 
history. 

"  On  one  occasion,  when  going  the  rounds  of  the  out 
wards,  or  almshouse  department,  with  Dr.  Kane,  we 
encountered  a  miserable,  squalid,  diminutive,  and  de- 
formed pauper,  who  had  married  quite  a  good-looking 
woman  in  the  house.  As  we  passed  this  interesting 
couple,  I  jocosely  asked  the  doctor  '  what  he  supposed 
must  be  the  contemplations  of  that  woman  as  she 
beheld  that  miserable  object,  and  reflected  that  he  was 
her  lord  and  master?'  He  paused  for  a  moment,  and 
then  replied  in  a  serious  tone,  ^  It  is  to  save  some  lady 
just  such  reflections  as  these  that  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  never  to  marry.' " 

How  heavily  the  consciousness  of  physical  disease 
'  must  have  hung  upon  him  at  twenty-one !  How  gloomy 
the  future  of  a  youth  so  finely  though  sligh+ly  formed, 
who,  in  full  health,  would  have  passed  for  a  model  of 
personal  beauty !  And  how  generous,  though  morbid, 
the  exaggeration  of  his  disqualifying  infirmities ! 


1 


u. 


2 

X. 
K 

a 

3 


\\ 


CHAPTER  III. 

SENIOR  PHYSICIAN  AT  BLOCKLEY — DUTIES  AND  STUDIES — ^^INAUQURAL 
THESIS — VERDICT  OP  THE  PROFESSION — PHYSIOLOGICAL  EXPLORA- 
TION, ME'lflODOLOGY,  APPARATUS,  CERTITUDE — UNREST,  CAUSE  AND 
CURE — ASSISTANT  SURGEON  UNITED  STATES  NAVY — BETTER  HEALTH 
— CHINA  MISSION — FIRST  VOYAGE — "  AS  IT  IS  WRITTEN" — STUDIES 
ABOARD — AROUND  BOMBAY^-CEYLON — TROPIC  LIFE. 


In  the  spring  of  1841,  a  few  months  after  he  attained 
his  majority,  and  a  year  before  he  graduated,  he  was 
installed,  as  we  have  seen,  one  of  the  Senior  Physicians 
Resident  at  Blockley.  The  heavy  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities of  his  office  were  upon  him,  added  to  the  studies 
preliminary  to  his  expected  graduation  in  medicine, 
surgery,  obstetrics,  chemistry,  and  all  the  tributary 
branches  of  the  healing  art  which  enter  into  our  omni- 
bus system  of  tuition,  under  the  genuine  American 
notion  that  nothing  less  than  too  much  is  plenty  of  any. 
thing.  But  he  found  time,  as  the  events  of  the  year 
showed,  for  all  this,  and  for  a  margin  of  collateral  inves- 
tigations large  enough  in  itself  to  pack  the  pages  of  a 

year's  progress  in  an  ordinary  man's  work. 
4^ 


INAUGURAL    THESIS. 


45 


AUGURAL 
EXPLORA- 
\.USE  AND 
1  HEALTH 
-STUDIES 


ittained 
he  was 
ysicians 
esponsi- 
studies 
edicine, 
dbutary 
r  omni- 
merican 
^  of  any. 
he  year 
il  inves- 
ges  of  a 


In  the  year  1831  M.  Nauche  had  communicated  to 
the  Society  of  Practical  Medicine  of  Paris  some  observa- 
tions upon  a  new  substance  found  in  the  renal  secretion, 
which  he  called  hyestein,  and  announced  as  an  indubi- 
table test  in  cases  of  suspected  utero-gestation.  The 
importance  of  this  discovery  made  it  the  subject  of  a 
critical  examination  in  Europe,  and,  at  the  request  of 
Dr.  Bunglison,  Drs,  McPheeters  and  Perry,  in  the  spring 
of  1840,  instituted  a  series  of  experiments  in  the  Blockley 
Hospital,  the  results  of  which  they  published  in  the 
"Medical  Intelligencer"  in  March,  1841.  Dr.  Kane,  as 
Junior  at  the  time,  had  studiously  watched  the  investi- 
gation, and  when  his  principal.  Dr.  McPheeters,  retired, 
availing  himself  of  his  apparatus  and  the  insight  gained 
in  the  preceding  six  months,  "pushed  the  subject  of 
kyestein,"  as  Dr.  McPheeters  very  frankly  says,  "much 
farther  than  I  had  done,  and  wrote  his  inaugural  thesis 
upon  it,  the  publication  of  which  gave  him  great  celebrity, 
— and  justly  too." 

With  the  results  at  which  Dr.  Kane  arrived  we  have 
nothing  more  to  do  now  than  to  state  their  value  in  the 
estimation  of  the  profession. 

Samuel  Jackson,  M.D.,  Professor  of  the  Institutes  of 
Medicine  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  his  vale- 
dictory address  to  the  graduating  class  of  that  institution 
on  the  28th  of  March,  1857,  says,  "It  is  fifteen  years 
and  two  days,  to  the  hour,  when  Elisha  Kent  Kane  stood 
on  this  platform,  in  this  room,  and  received  tlie  medical 
diploma   of  the   University.     However   sanguine   may 


1 

i 

< 
2 

K 

Q 
2 


46 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


have  been  his  anticipati  as  of  professional  success  and 
reputation,  (and  it  is  a  fair  presumption  that  such  were 
entertained  by  him,)  he  was  fully  justified  in  that  expec- 
tancy.    He  was  the  foremost  student  of  the  class ;  the 
thesis  he  had  presented  to  the  Faculty  had  been  honored 
by  a  vote  of  approbation  and  a  request  for  its  publica- 
tion.*    In  this  treatise,  a  subject  that  had  recently  been 
brought  to  the  notice  of  the  profession  by  Nauche,  and 
was  still  a  matter  of  controversy,  was  investigated  and 
permanently  settled.     The  conclusions  of  Dr.  Kane  were 
drawn  from  a  series  of  experiments  and  observations  on 
one  hundred  and  seventy-nine   individuals,  and  have 
been  entirely  acquiesced  in.     The  subject  has  remained 
undisturbed  in  the   position  in  which  his  publication 
placed  it.     This,  his   first  step  in  medicine,  made  his 
name  an  authority  on  that  question  that  time  has  not 
weakened;    it  established   a  reputation  that  has  not 
been  dimmed,  and  was  an  augury  of  professional  pre- 
eminence." 

Dr.  Dunglison,— the  most  competent,  comprehensive, 
and  critical  of  our  text-book  authors,— in  his  well-known 
"Physiology,"  speaking  of  this  investigation,  says,  "The 
result  of  Dr,  Kane's  observations,  which  the  author  had 
an  opportimity  of  examining  from  time  to  time,  and  for 


*  Extract  From  the  minutes:—*'  The  following  resolution  was  offered 
by  Dr.  Jackson,  and  unanimously  passed :  *  That  the  Dean  bo  desired  to 
communicate  to  Mr.  E.  K.  Kane  tlie  approbation  of  the  Faculty  for  his 
able  and  instructive  thesis,  and  that  he  be  re(iuc8ted  to  have  it  pub- 
lished.' "     Dated  March  18,  1842. 


iul  t 


VERDICT    OF    THE    PROFESSION. 


47 


the  accuracy  of  which  he  can  vouch,  was  deduced  by 
Dr.  Kane  as  follows,"  &c. 

M.  Simon,  of  Berlin,  Prussia,  who  had  investigated 
the  subject  with  great  zeal  and  care,  refers  (in  his 
''Animal  Chemistry,"  English  edition  of  1846)  to  our 
young  author  thus  : — "  From  the  observations  of  Kane 
and  myself  it  seems  to  follow," — endorsing  and  affirming 
the  doctrine  of  the  thesis. 

A  dozen  distinguished  cultivators  of  medical  and 
chemical  science  in  Europe  and  America  were  engaged 
in  this  research;  yet  among  them  all  Kane  made  his 
first  "  mark  in  the  world,"  to  the  effect  which  our  quota- 
tions testify. 

The  general  reader  is  not  concerned  with  the  subject- 
matter  of  Dr.  Kane's  inaugural  thesis ;  but  there  is  that 
in  the  mind  and  method  of  the  young  naturalist  which 
is  much  to  the  purpose  of  these  pages. 

Young  and  enthusiastic  as  he  was,  he  adjusted  him- 
self to  his  difficult  and  doubtful  inquiry  in  that  spirit  of 
philosophic  caution  which  equally  avoids  the  anticipation 
and  the  oversight  of  facts.  His  mind  was  well  balanced 
between  the  skepticism  and  the  credulity  of  physical  dis- 
covery, for  which  mental  integrity  is  as  necessary  as 
mental  capacity. 

He  had  witnessed  the  experiments  of  highly  compe- 
tent persons,  and  had  observed  their  confidence  in  the 
inferences  which  they  drew  from  them.  Weighty  au- 
thorities were  in  the  field  before  him,  but  he  was  "care- 
ful to  avoid  the  influence  which  the  known  opinions  of 


(10 


i 

u, 

< 

2 

N 

Q 


48 


ELISHA  KENT   KANE. 


others  might  have  had  upon  the  freedom  of  his  own." 
He  noticed  that  the  aggregate  of  all  the  observations 
made  upon  the  subject  in  the  ten  years  before  he  under- 
took it  did  not  quite  number  sixty  cases.  He  extended 
his,  not  only  to  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  cases 
tabled  in  his  report,  but  to  ninety-two  enumerated  cases 
besides,  not  directly  involved  in  his  category,  but  exa- 
mined for  the  corrective  cross-lights  which  they  threw 
upon  those  that  fell  fully  within  the  inquiry;  and,  he 
adds,  in  general  terms,  "  numerous  others,"  the  subjects 
of  various  diseases  and  of  various  ages  and  conditions, 
which  might  by  possibility  modify  the  results  he  was 


aiming  at. 


Indicating  the  method  of  his  procedure,  and  the  con- 
siderations which  controlled  it,  he  says,  "My  notes 
were  always  made  upon  the  spot.  If,  from  any  cause, 
an  individual  observation,  or  a  series,  was  unsatisfactory 
or  inconclusive,  or  if  it  led  to  a  different  result  from 
others,  I  repeated  it  at  once  with  increased  care;  and  I 
was  always  careful  to  observe  the  constitution,  habits, 
and  circumstances  of  each  patient."  Of  all  which,  m- 
deed,  his  tabled  cases  give  the  most  ample  and  satisfactory 

proof 

He  remarks,  upon  the  caution  and  comprehensiveness 
of  his  lalioriously  exact  inquiries,  that,  "To  justify 
general  conclusions,  a  largo  number  of  cases  should  be 
examinedy  individually  and  in  group,  and  their  progress, 
changes,  and  points  of  difference  noted.  They  should 
•be  -viewed  under  dilTerent  aspects,  at  regular  and  ire- 


>; 


nsivenoss 


PHYSIOLOGICAL    EXPLORATIONS. 


49 


quentlj  recurring  intervals.  If  the  indications  of  a  paiv 
ticular  case  should  appear  to  vary  from  those  of  others 
repeated  observations  would  become  necessary  to  detect 
the  causes  of  variance;  and  the  influence  of  similar 
causes  upon  other  cases,  where  they  existed,  also  should 
then  be  sought  for.  And  I  may  be  excused  for  adding 
that  a  candid  spirit,  not  too  much  biassed  in  favor  of 
theory  to  admit  the  existence  of  observed  exceptions — 
that  looks  to  each  clearly-ascertained  result  as  an  inde- 
pendent element,  and  that  rejects  nothing  that  appears 

true  because  irreconcilable  with  what  was  known  before 

is  not  less  important  to  the  formation  of  correct  opinions 
than  the  most  careful  and  varied  scrutiny  of  facts." 

"It  is  not  meant  by  this,"  he  adds,  deferentially,  "that 
the  gentlemen  who  have  treated  on  this  subject  have 
been  regardless  of  these  precautions,  or  wanting  in  the 
proper  spirit  of  inquiry;  but  it  is  apparent  that  their 
observations  have  been  rather  of  isolated  cases  tlian  of 
classes,  that  they  have  not  compared  a  large  number  of 
results,  and  that  they  have  failed  to  detect  any  exceptions 
to  their  general  conclusions." 

These  paragraphs  contain  a  very  complete  directory 
for  physical  investigation  in  all  its  applications.  They 
are  a  plain  translation  into  specialities  of  all  that  is 
found  in  Mills  and  Comte  on  the  conduct  of  the  under- 
standing in  philosophic  researches, — all  that  the  one 
means  by  "the  empirical  law  deriving  wlmternir  of  truth 
it  has  from  the  causal  laws  of  which  it  is  c1  Gons(^^\e5^'7p^ 
ana  all  that  the  other  iutuuds  by  "  the  reciprocal;;j^|ji|k5i^!^^^ 


I 


i'  %B 
•J 

V) 

i 

Lb' 
< 

2 

i:^ 

X 

Q 
3 


ELlSnA    KENT    KANE. 


•1 


50 

tion  of  laws  and  facts  carried  on  pari  pmm,"— with  the 
advantage  of  being  analytically  rendered  into  guide-book 
clearness,  and  definitely  presented  for  practical  use,  and 
illustrated,  moreover,  by  the  method  of  his  own  process,  of 
which  these  abstract  directions  are  but  a  just  description. 
It  is  surprising  that  a  boy  in  years  and  experience 
should  thus  put  himself  abreast  of  the  adepts  who  were 
in  the  field  of  scientific  discovery  against  him;  but  when 
we  find  him  working   under   direction  of  an   unerring 
method,  intuitively  his  own,  the  surprise  shifts,  from  the 
success  achieved,  to  the  philosophic  spirit  of  system  so 
early  and  so  fully  attained. 

The  chemical  tests  employed  seem  to  have  exhausted 
the  known  resources  of  that  science  for  the  elucidation 
of  his  subject;  and  the  doubt  which  he  intimates,  of  the 
capability  of  chemical  agents  for  rendering  the  secrets  of 
vital  phenomena,shows  an  equally  bold  and  clear  appre- 
hension  of  a  truth  which  concerns  the  morals  as  well  as 
the  certainties  of  the  Inductive  I'hilosophy. 

In  the  same  free  spirit  he  speaks  of  the  microscopic 
observations,  practised  with  great  assiduity  and  with  the 
best  assistance  which  he  could  secure:  he  says,  "I  do  not 
venture  to  claim  for  these  the  same  confidence  which  is 
due  to  my  examinations  by  the  unassisted  eye." 

It  is  something  unusual  to  find  an  ardent  under- 
.rraduate  so  free  from  the  blandishments  of  authority  and 
the  imposture  of  apparatus,  where  all  their  testimonies, 
as  in  his  case,  make  for  the  very  conclusions  which  he 
inclines  to  receive  and  is  tempted  to  adopt. 


UNREST,  CAUSE  AND  CUBE. 


51 


:li  the 
e-book 
le,  and 
less,  of 
iption. 
jrience 
0  were 
b  when 
lerring 
)m  the 
tern  so 

lausted 
idation 
,  of  the 
crets  of 
■  appre- 
well  as 

roscopic 
vith  the 
[  do  not 
Yhich  is 

under- 
rity  and 
imonies, 
^^hich  he 


This  man  was  singularly  fitted,  mentally  and  morally, 
for  discovery  in  natural  science. 

The  "die-in-the-harness"  resolution  was  in  full  play, 
as  we  have  seen,  during  the  year  and  a  half  of  hospital 
service  and  study  at  Blockley.  Several  times  it  seemed 
to  be  near  its  finishing  fulfilment :  the  doctor  was  more 
than  once  carried  home  on  men's  shoulders  to  be  nursed, 
and  returned  again  to  his  ofiicial  duties  and  scientific 
pursuits  at  the  earliest  moment  of  adequate  strength. 

But  it  was  not  all  desperation  that  determined  him  to 
labor  in  spite  cf  pain.  It  had  become  apparent  that  his 
system  would  not  brook  repose;  rest  was  not  his  remedy  : 
unintermitting  activity  was  proved,  on  fiiir  trial,  to  be  his 
best  medicine.  This  was  true  of  his  whole  subsequent 
life;  and  his  apprehension  of  this  necessity  explains  and 
justifies  the  tension  and  persistency  of  his  enterprise, 
otherwise  Hable  to  be  ascribed  to  impulses  more  heroic 
and  reckless  than  reasonable  or  even  excusable.  The 
current  of  his  life  shows  convincingly  that  incessant  toil 
and  exposure  was  a  sound  hygienic  policy  in  his  case. 
Naturally  his  physical  constitution  was  a  case  of  coil- 
springs,  compacted  till  they  quivered  with  their  own 
mobility;  nervous  disease  had  added  its  irritability,  and 
mental  energy  electrified  them.  It  was  doing  or  dying 
with  him.  And  it  was  not  a  tyrant  selfishness,  a  wild 
ambition,  that  ruled  his  life,  but  a  rare  concurrence  of 
mental  aptitude,  moral  impulse,  and  bodily  necessity, 
that  kept  him  incessant  in  adventure.  If  some  of  his 
performances  which  we  have  to  record  transcend  even 


f 


(!0 


V) 

mm 

< 

U.' 
U.' 

< 

Z 

ct 

u 

S, 

o; 


52 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


m 


I         'f   !■'■ 


-  the  large  range  which  a  right  regimen  dictated,  it  is  only 
their  excess,  not  their  quality  or  purpose,  which  invites 
a  candid  censure.  When  anatomy  was  but  little  ad- 
vanced, the  sinews  were  called  nerves;  and  the  adjective 
"nervous"  is  thence  employed  by  literary  people  to  mean 
•  strong,  vigorous;  in  colloquial  phrase  the  same  word  is 
used  for  irritable,  agitated.  Put  both  these  senses  of  the 
word  together,  and  you  will  have  some  notion  of  the 
way  the  nerves  were  strung  in  our  subject. 

His  father  was  so  well  persuaded  of  all  this,  that,  when 
Elisha  was  about  to  graduate  in  medicine,  he  applied, 
without  consulting  him,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
for  a  warrant  of  examination  for  the  post  of  surgeon  in 
the  service.     The  doctor  was  not  a  little  dissatisfied  with 
the  sudden  diversion  of  his  drift,,  when  he  learned  what 
had  been  done  and  how  he  was  committed.      The  en- 
thusiasm of  his  last  year's  researches  was  strong  upon 
him;  his  plans  looked  to  continued  occupation  in  the 
career  he  had  entered  upon  with  so  much  success;  and, 
beside  this,  his  hospital-training  and  habit  of  mind  were 
rather  alien  than  helpful  to  the  special  duties  of  ship- 
board practice. 

But  he  resolutely  faced  about;  and  the  first  good  fruit 
of  the  new  endeavor  was  a  decided  improvement  in  his 
health,  under  the  hard  work  of  preparing  himself  for  his 
new  examination. 

He  stood  the  inquisition  of  the  Board  of  Navy  Sur- 
geons handsomely.  There  were  four  candidates  so  nearly 
equal  in  the  judgment  of  the  examining  Board  that  they 


doctf 


FIRST    SEA-VOYAGE. 


53 


is  only 
invites 
le  ad- 
jective 
)  mean 
^ord  is 
of  the 
of  the 

b,  when 
ipplied, 

Navy, 
geon  in 
ed  with 
id  what 
rhe  en- 
ig  upon 

in  the 
3s;  and, 
lid  were 
of  ship- 

)od  fruit 
t  in  his 
f  for  his 

ivy  Sur- 
io  nearly 
hat  they 


settled  their  relative  rank  by  the  rule  of  seniority.     Dr. 
Kane  stood  third  in  the  report  made  under  this  rule. 

Bad  health  may  disqualify  a  navy  surgeon  for  the  per- 
formance of  his  duty,  and  is  properly  a  ground  of  reject 
tion,  however  well  he  may  be  otherwise  fitted  for  the 
place.  After  Dr.  Kane  had  passed  his  examination,  he 
frankly  told  the  Board  that  he  labored  under  chronic 
rheumatism  and  cardiac  disturbance,  and  that  he  knew 
they  could  reject  him  for  that  cause.  But  the  metal  in 
the  man  outweighed  his  physical  infirmities  in  their  esti- 
mation, and  they  refused  to  re-examine  him. 

There  was  no  vacancy  at  this  time  on  the  roll  of 
assistani>surgeons.  Mr.  Webster  was  in  the  administrar 
tion,  and  the  public  expectation  had  named  him  as  our 
minister  to  China.  Dr.  Kane's  friend.  Dr.  Chapman, 
obtained  Mr.  Webster's  promise  that  he  should  be  the 
physician  of  the  embassy;  and  it  was  arranged  with  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  that  he  might  accept  the  place 
without  prejudice  to  his  rank  in  the  service.  Mr.  Cush- 
ing,  who  was  ultimately  charged  with  the  mission, 
adopted  the  friendly  purpose  of  Mr.  Webster,  and  the 
doctor  accordingly  sailed  in  the  frigate  Brandywine, 
Commodore  Parker,  for  the  Eastern  seas,  in  May,  1843. 
This  was  his  first  seorvoyage.  The  vessel,  after  touch- 
ing at  Madeira,  passed  on  to  Rio  de  Janeiro.  There  they 
were  just  in  time  to  witness  the  coronation  of  the  Em- 
press of  Brazil,  and  the  officers  of  the  legation  bore  part 
in  the  ceremonial.  While  they  remained  in  port,  the 
doctor  availed  himself  of  an  opportunity  for  a  trip  to 


V) 

< 

Ui' 
LI' 

< 

2 

Q 
3 


54 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


the  Eastern  Andes  of  Brazil,  and  he  examined  with  some 
care  the  geological  character  of  the  region. 

Some  very  brief  memoranda  of  this  excursion  ^yere 
transcribed  from  his  diary  in  letters  to  his  friends  at 
home;  but  the  journal  of  the  grand  tour  then  before 
him,  with  all  its  sketches  of  objects  and  scenery,  was  lost 
on  the  Nile,  as  he  returned,  by  an  accident  which  will 
be  narrated  in  the  proper  place;  and  he  never  had  the 
leisure  to  restore  his  notes  even  so  far  as  memory  might 
have  served  to  replace  the  record  to  any  purpose.     There 
was,  in  fact,  not  this  much  in  him  that  would  work 
backward.     As  in  the  case  of  his  inaugural  thesis,  he 
always  took  his  notes  upon  the  spot,  and  when  he  pub- 
lished them  afterward  his  books  were  scarcely  any  thing 
but  his  journals  emptied  into  type.    His  writings  that 
have  charmed   the  world  are,  as  nearly  as  any  other 
man's  ever  were,  his  books  of  original  entry.     There  are 
several  instances,  in  his  three  volumes  of  Arctic  Explorar 
tions,  where  his  notes   seemed  to  him  of  questionable 
accuracy;  but  a  rigid  observance  of  a  good  rule  restrained 
correction  by  his  memory,  and  he  put  them  down   as 
they  were  written.      He  had  a  conscience  in  literary 
composition,  and  a  habitual  respect  for  the  difference 
between  the  Utera  scripta  and  the  vestiges  of  memory 
:  ^  the  statement  of  facts. 

The  loss  of  his  journal  on  the  Nile  makes  it  difficult 
to  detail  satisfiictorily  the  story  of  his  Eastern  travels 
and  adventures,  and  deprives  us,  besides,  of  his  observar 
tions  hy  the  way,— a  loss  even  more  material ;  for  we 


AROUND    BOMBAY. 


55 


for  \VQ 


could  better  spare  the  personal  adventures  of  any  year 
of  the  fourteen,  crowded  as  they  all  were  with  inci- 
dents of  travel,  and  peril,  and  bold  achievement,  than 
the  fruits  of  art  and  thought  which  he  gleaned  from 
them  in  a  day. 

The  frigate  went  to  Bombay,  to  meet  Mr.  Commis- 
sioner Cashing,  who  followed  by  the  overland  route. 

During  the  voyage  he  occupied  himself  with  the 
severer  studies  of  geometry,  algebra,  navigation,  and  in 
the  languages  of  modern  Europe.  A  young  midship- 
man, Mr.  "Weaver,  for  whom  he  formed  a  warm  and 
generous  affection,  became  his  pupil  in  these.  Among 
their  studies  the  Bible  and  Shakspeare  had  their  place. 
With  the  admirable  idiom  of  these  handbooks  of  the 
head  and  heart  few  laymen  were  more  conversant  than 
Dr.  Kane,  and  he  is  a  more  than  ordinary  wise  man 
who  has  profited  more  in  the  practical  wisdom  of  their 
teachings. 

Mr.  Gushing  was  delayed  by  the  burning  of  the  steam- 
frigate  Missouri,  which  had  carried  him  to  Gibraltar,  so 
that  the  legation  lay  for  some  months  at  Bombay  awai<> 
ing  him,  and  enjoying  the  hospitalities  of  the  British 
officials  of  the  station. 

Durmg  this  detention  of  the  frigate  Dr.  Kane  was  an 
active  traveller.  He  visited  the  caverned  temples  of 
Elephanta,  excavated  from  the  rock  of  a  mountain-side 
on  the  island  of  that  name  in  the  vicinity  of  Bombay, 
journeyed  by  palanquin  to  Ellorah  and  Dowlatabad, 
crossed  the  Ghauts  at  Kandalali,  and  explored  the  rarely- 


H 

(a 

:  It*, 

< 

U.' 

< 

2 

a 

X 

a 

5 


56 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


visited  cave-temples  at  Karli,  situated  on  the  coast  of  the 
continent  opposite  the  larger  island  of  Salsette. 

Returning  to  Bombay  from  this  excursion,  and  finding 
that  he  had  time  and  opportunity  for  further  research, 
he  passed  over  to  Ceylon,  pressed  onward  to  the  interior, 
under  the  friendly  escort  of  some  gentlemen  of  the  gar- 
rison, and   shared  in  the   elephant-hunt   and  the  rare 
sports  of  the  jungles.     Here,  where  the  wild  game  is  the 
elephant,  which  is  considered  of  better  quahty  than  in 
any  other  country  in  the  world, — not  quite  so  tall  as  on 
the  continent,  but  particularly  active  and  hardy, — and 
where  the  wooded  hills  around  Candy,  the  interior  capi- 
tal, which  is  only  a  large  straggling  village,  echo  conti- 
nually with  the  cries  of  birds  and  wild  beasts,  was  a 
field  of  richly-assorted  sports,  and  a  rare  chance  for  the 
coveted  exercise. 

He  used  to  refer  to  this  as  a  time  of  delightful  excite- 
ment. The  risk  edged  the  relish  of  the  joyance,  and  he 
feasted  to  the  full  upon  the  tropical  wealth  of  novelty 
which  everywhere  surrounded  him,  multiplied  in  its 
effect  by  its  infinite  variety :  "here  he  picnicked  in  the 
summer-palace  among  the  hills,  took  his  nooning  under 
the  taliput  palms,  and  waked  to  the  wild  hazards  of  the 

chase." 

If  the  pen  and  pencil  of  the  Arctic  artist  had  painted 
Ceylon  in  the  colors  of  his  first  surprise,  the  picture 
would  spare  some  ineffectual  wing-work  of  the  fancy 
which  endeavors  to  realize  it  as  he  saw  and  felt  it. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    FORETHOUGHT   OF    TRAVEL — LUZON — THE    NEGRITOS — A    GRAND 
RAMBLE — A  VAGRANT    SOUVENIR — VOLCANO  01    TAEL,  DESCRIPTION 

AND    HISTORY — DESCENT   OP   THE   CRATER — AN    INDIGNANT    IDOL 

SKIRMISH    WITH    THE    PYGMIES — THE    <' TREATY    FORTNIGHT" — KI- 
YING   AND    CUSHING — ANTIPODAL   GENTLEMEN — A    DINNER — CELES-  * 
TIAL   HEALTH-DRINKING — ATTACHES — DIPLOMATIC   DANCE — DISAP- 
POINTMENT. 

After  a  tedious  voyage  from  Ceylon,  the  legation 
reached  Macao,  and  the  doctor  remained  connected  with 
it  until  the  negotiations  were  closed  by  the  treaty  of  3d 
July,  1844.  But  he  was  not  idle  during  the  six  or 
seven  months  of  the  slow  proceedings  of  Chinese  diplo- 
macy. He  was  not  attached  to  the  service  now  as  a 
surgeon  of  the  navy,  but  as  physician  to  the  embassy; 
and,  obtaining  Mr.  Cushing's  sanction,  he  provided  a 
substitute  to  serve  in  his  place  in  case  of  need,  and 
crossed  the  China  Sea  to  Luzon. 

Before  leaving  home,  he  had  been  furnished  by  Arch- 
bishop Eccleston,  of  Baltimore,  and  by  his  friend  Bishop 
Kenrick,  then  of  Philadelphia,  with  letters  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Manilla.    Under  the  auspices  of  this  distin- 

57 


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58 


ELlSnA    KENT    KANE. 


guislied  prelate,  he  was  enabled  to  make  a  more  complete 
exploration  of  the  Philippines  than  any  foreigner  had  at 
that  time  effected. 

That  he  had  the  purposes  of  the  traveller  in  prospect 
before  he  sailed,  and  intended  to  avail  himself  of  all  the 
opportunities  of  the  cruise,  is  indicated  by  his  precaution 
to  secure  these  and  other  letters  from  the  Catholic 
bishops,  addressed  to  the  faithful  tlii'oughout  the  world, 
and,  along  with  them,  letters  i-n  the  nature  of  protection's 
from  the  Papal  consuls  of  Spain,  Portugal,  and  France. 
He  had  been  accommodated,  to  the  same  purpose,  by  Mr. 
George  R.  Ptussell,  of  Boston,  to  his  correspondents  in 
Manilla,  and  he  had  similar  letters  from  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Missions,  to  meet  his  exigencies  at  their  mis- 
sionary stations,  and  fi'om  the  Lutheran  and  Moravian 
officials  of  the  like  purport. 

The  island  of  Luzon,  or  Luconia,  the  largest  of  the 
Philippines,  is  briefly  described  in  tlie  books,  quoting 
Balbi,  as  having  an  area  of  about  fifty  thousand  square 
miles,  and  a  population  of  two  and  a  quarter  millions, — 
the  western  portion  under  the  government  of  Spain, 
with  Manilla  (population  one  hundred  and  forty  thou- 
sand) for  its  capital,  and  the  eastern  or  Pacific  coast  in 
possession  of  independent  savages.  "  It  is  covered,"  says 
Murray,  ''to  a  great  extent  with  high  mountains,  among 
which  arc  several  active  volcanos,  with  hot  springs  in 
their  vicinity,  and  violent  eiirthquakes  have  been  felt  at 
Manilla  and  in  other  (quarters.  The  aboriginal  inhajjit- 
ints  consist  of  two  races,  the    Malays   and  a  tribe  of 


A    VAGRANT    SOUVENIR. 


69 


negroes  called  Negritos.  The  former  have,  with  some 
exceptions,  submitted  to  the  sway  of  the  Spaniards,  and 
embraced  Christianity.  The  Negritos  are  generally  inde- 
pendent :  they  are  represented,  also,  as  dwarfs  or  pyg- 
mies in  stature,  and  among  the  lowest  forms  of  humanity 
in  all  their  characteristics.  The  native  languages  of  the 
island  are  the  Tagalic  and  Bisago." 

Dr.  Kane  traversed  the  island  from  Manilla  to  its 
Pacific  coast,  and,  with  his  usual  audacity,  explored  its 
fastnesses,  bathed  in  the  forbidden  waters  of  its  asphaltic 
lake,  descended  to  the  very  bottom  of  its  great  volcano, 
and  perilled  his  life  in  a  contest  with  a  band  of  savages 
who  were  incensed  by  his  proflmation  of  their  sacred 
mysteries. 

A  history  and  description  of  the  volcano,  written  by  a 
friar  in  a  convent  near  Manilla,  for  the  doctor,  and 
probably  at  his  request,  followed  him  by  a  route  and 
with  incidents  of  travel  almost  as  devious  and  remark- 
able as  his  own  journeyings.  It  was  carried  by  a  Manilla 
sea-captain  to  China,  another  carried  it  after  him  to 
Calcutta  or  Bombay,  through  half  a  dozen  hands  it 
reached  New  York,  thence  it  went  on  its  way  to  Illinois, 
and  finally,  after  a  trip  of  twelve  years,  it  reached  its 
ultimate  destination  in  the  summer  of  185G.  It  was 
put  into  his  hands  as  he  sat  at  his  dinner-table,  with  the 
sullerings  of  all  those  years  recorded  in  his  system  and 
pointing  to  other  interests  than  those  which  absorbed 
him  when  it  was  written,  lie  laid  it  aside,  and  never 
opened  it. 


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60 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


It  is  endorsed,  "Description  of  a  Volcano  in  the 
Island  of  Luconia.  Written  by  a  Friar  in  a  Convent 
near  Manilla,  for  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane;  left  with  Henry 
Hesketh  for  translation."  It  has  the  following  subscrip- 
tion :— "  This  is  as  much  as  I  can  relate  to  my  friend  Mr. 
Elisha  Kent  Kane.     T.  G.  Azaola,  Ifanilla,  27th  April, 

1844." 

This  Mr.  Hesketh  had  left  IlUnois  for  Trinidu  \  Cali- 
fornia, and  died  there  in  1850.  The  document  was  for- 
warded by  his  administrator  to  Dr.  Kane  at  Philadelphia, 
when  his  celebrity  as  an  Arctic  voyageur  had  made  his 
name  a  sufficient  direction  to  his  residence. 

From  this  description  of  the  volcano  and  history  of 
its  eruptions,  which  entire  would  fill  fifteen  of  our  pages, 
we  extract  so  much  only  as  may  help  to  a  tolerable 
estimate  of  the  adventure  which  makes  it  a  matter  of 
special  interest  in  this  work. 

"VOLCANO  OF  TAEL. 

«  The  Indians  have  no  word  expressive  of  this  phe- 
nomenon, and,  as  it  is  situated  on  an  island,  they  call  it 
Pido,  the  '  Tagalo'  [Tagalic  word]  for  island.  This  island, 
which  is  formed  by  a  mountain  from  three  hundred  and 
fifty  to  four  hundred  yards  perpendicular  above  the  level 
of  the  Laguna  de  Bombon,  is  about  three  leagues  in 
circumference,  and  in  its  summit  is  seen  a  crater  two 
miles  in  circmnfereiice.  The  walls  which  form  this 
crater  arc  fifty  to  seventy-five  yards  in  perpendicular 
height  from  its  base,  which  renders  a  descent  into  it 
impossible  without  the  aid  of  ropes  or  ladders.     At  the 


and    ( 


VOLCANO    OF    TAEL. 


61 


bottom  of  the  crater,  which  is  smoking,  are  seen  four  or 
five  peaks  or  cones  covered  with  suljDhur.  All  the  rest 
is  a  lake  of  green  water  which  boils  in  several  places, 
and  should  contain  sulphuric  acid.  Neither  basaltes  nor 
lava  are  found  in  all  the  mountain  or  volcano,  nor  scoria) 
and  burnt  clay,  nor  any  pumice-stone. 

"The  lake  in  which  stands  this  island,  volcano,  or 
Pulo  has  a  circumierence  of  thirty  leagues :  its  waters 
are  brackish  and  bituminous :  it  is  of  great  depth ;  the 
shallowest  part  is  twenty  fiithoms;  the  soundings  are 
forty  ftithoms,  forty-five,  seventy,  one  hundred  fiithoms, 
and  in  other  parts  no  bottom  has  been  found  with  a  line 
of  one  hundred  ard  twenty-five  fiithoms. 

"  The  natives  call  it  Bombon,  because  it  is  surrounded 
by  mountains  of  great  elevation,  more  than  one  thousand 
five  hundred  yards  above  the  sea-level,  and  it  is  so 
deep  that  they  liken  it  to  a  stalk  of  cane  or  bamboo,  in 
calling  it  Bombon  from  its  narrowness  and  depth.  .  . 
The  waters  of  this  lake  issue  by  a  small  river,  of  very 
little  breadth  nowadays,  whose  mouth  or  outlet  is  on 
the  southwest  of  the  lake,  and  it  runs  a  distance  of  two 
leagues  to  empty  into  the  sea,  on  whose  shore  now 
stands  the  Pueblo  of  Tael  and  the  hermitage  or  sanc- 
tuary of  Casaisay.  .  .  .  The  situation  of  the  old 
Pueblo  de  Tael  was  nearly  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  :  it 
being  the  capital  of  the  province,  and  there  being  an 
oral  tradition  that  there  entered  '  Chanipancs'  or  '  Pon- 
tines'  of  forty  to  sixty  tons,  which  traded  between  it 
and   other    Pueblos   {hahlhitiom)   of  the   same   lake.— 


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62 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


such  as  the  old  Tanauan,  Tala  and  Bauan, — convinces 
me  that  the  river  was  not  only  of  greater  width,  but 
much  greater  depth,  communicating  with  the  sea  by  the 
Gulf  of  Balayan.  The  brackishness  of  the  waters  of  the 
lake  is  another  indication,  having  been  pent  up  by  the 
obstructions  caused  there  by  the  successive  eruptions  of 
the  volcano,  which  in  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth 
centuries  were  considerable, — especially  those  of  1736, 
1746,  and  1749  to  1750. 

"When  the  old  Pueblo  of  Tael  was  founded,  in  1575 
to  1576,  in  the  place  where  ive  visited  its  ruins,  the 
volcano  caused  no  anxiety,  since  an  old  chronicle  of  the 
Augustines  says  that  on  the  skirts  or  declivities  of  the 
mountain  the  natives  had  fields  of  cotton,  sweet  potatoes, 
and  other  crops.  Toward  the  end  of  the  century  1600, 
the  volcano  already  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  an  eruption, 
throwing  out,  says  the  same  chronicle,  cinders  which 
destroyed  the  harvests  of  the  Indians.  It  also  relates 
that,  of  every  three  persons  in  the  island,  one  died, — with- 
out doubt  from  the  gases  caused  by  this.  About  this  time, 
says  the  chron>le,  were  formed  (and  became  visible) 
within  the  crater  two  holes,  one  full  of  sulphur,  and  the 
other  of  green  water,  as  at  the  present  day." 

Then  follow  very  graphic  accounts  of  the  great  erup- 
tions of  1716,  1746,  and  1754,  related  by  competent  eye- 
witnesses, with  very  ingenious  speculations  by  Dr.  Kane's 
friend,  the  friar  Azaola,  upon  the  phenomena  exhibited 
and  the  probable  connection  of  the  volcano  of  Tael  with 
tho  earthquake  which  destroyed  Linui  in  1746,  and  the 


DESCENT    OF    THE    CRATER. 


63 


shock  felt  in  1755  at  Lisbon,  and  through  Spain,  France, 
Germany,  Norway,  and  elsewhere,--all  interesting  enough 
to  call  for  the  publication  of  the  paper  entire,  but  only 
pertinent  to  our  purpose  as  an  introduction  to  the  adven- 
ture of  our  hero.* 

His  descent  into  the  Tael  was  a  feat  which  only  one 
European  had  attempted  before,  and  he  without  success. 
Dr.  Kane  was  in  company  with  Baron  Loe,  a  relative  of 
Prince  Metternich.     They  had  an  escort  of  natives,  pro- 
vided by  the  ecclesiastics  of  the  neighboring  sanctuary 
of  Casaisaj',  who  pointed  out  the  only  pathway  to  the 
brink  of  the  crater.     The  two  gentlemen  attempted  the 
descent  together,  but  they  soon   reached  a  projecting 
ledge,  from  which  farther  progress  was   absolutely  pre- 
cipitous.   After  searching  in  vain  for  some  more  practi- 
cable route,  the  baron  gave  up  the  project,  and  united 
with  the  rest  of  the  party  in  efforts  to  persuade  the 
doctor  to  abandon  it  also.      But  that  was  out  of  the 
question.     It  was   his   temper   to  meet  difficulty  with 
proportioned  endeavor,  and  to  do  his  best  to  master  it 


*  A  correspondent  of  the  National  Em,  of  the  17th  of  September, 
1857,  who  was  at  Manilhi  in  February,  and  made  a  trip  up  the  Pasig 
River  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Tael,  describes  the  water  issuing  from 
the  springs  at  Los  Banos,  on  the  southeastern  extremity  of  Lake  Bay, 
as  boiling  hot.  He  says,  "The  volcano  of  Tael,  whose  crater  was 
explored  by  Dr.  Kane,  in  twenty  miles  distant  from  Los  Banos,  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  subterranean  streams  which  .  ,rm  these  boiling 
f-pringa  pass  near  the  fires  which  communicate  with  the  burning  moun- 
tiiin." 


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64 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


before  he  yielded.  The  attendants  very  reluctantly 
gathered  from  the  jungle  a  parcel  of  bamboos,  and  fash- 
ioned them  into  a  rude  but  strong  rope,  by  which,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  baron,  they  lowered  him  over  the 
brink.  He  touched  bottom  at  a  depth  of  more  than  two 
hundred  feet  from  the  platform  he  had  left,  and,  detach- 
ing himself  from  the  cord,  clambered  slowly  downward 
till  he  reached  the  smoking  lake  below  and  dipped  his 
specimen-bottles  under  its  surface. 

The  very  next  thing  in  order  was  to  get  back  again 
with  the  trophies  of  his  achievement.     This  he  used  to 
speak  of  as  the  only  dangerous  part  of  the  enterprise. 
The  scaldin-,  ashes  gave  way  under  him  at  every  step  of 
his  return;  a  change  in  the  air-current  stifled  him  with 
sulphurous  vapors;  he  fell  repeatedly,  and,  before  he  got 
back  to  the  spot  where  his  rope  was  dangling,  his  boots 
were  so  charred  that  one  of  them  went  to  pieces  on  his  foot. 
He,  however,  succeeded  in  tying  the  bamboo  round  his 
waist,  and  was  hauled  up  almost  insensible.     When  he 
sank  exhausted  in  the  hands  of  his  assistants,  the  natives 
protested  that  the  Deity  of  the  Tael  had  avenged  himself 
for  the  sacrilege;  but  the  baron,  who  had  less  fliith  in  the 
divinity  of  brimstone,  dashed  him  with  water,  and  applied 
restoratives  brought  by  a  messenger  whom  he  had  de- 
spatched to  the  neighboring  hermitage.      The  remedies 
were  so  far  successful  that  he  could  be  carried  to  the 
halting-place  of  the  night  before.   He  had  mved  his  bottles 
of  sulphur-water,  which  he  sent  home  to  l-e  analyzed,  and 
with  them  soioe  fine  specimens  of  porpbyritic  tufa. 


THE    TEEATY  FORTNIGHT. 


G5 


But  this  was  not  quite  the  end  of  the  adventure.  As 
his  companion  and  himself  pursued  their  journeying, 
the  story  of  the  profanation  to  which  the  Tael  had  been 
subjected  went  before  them.  A  pygmy  mob  gathered 
angi'ily  around  them,  their  escort  dwindled  away  or 
took  part  with  their  assailants,  and,  before  they  were 
rescued  by  some  of  the  padres,  the  gentlemen  were  forced 
to  entrench  themselves  in  a  thicket  and  throw  up  a  dust 
with  their  revolvers. 

In  a  letter  of  the  doctor's,  dated  Whampoa,  August 
5   and   6,  1844,   he   gives  what   he   calls  ''a  faithful 
recollecting  history  of  '  the  treaty  fortnight.' "     Entire,  it 
would  fill  twenty  of  these  pages  :  we  can  afford  it  only 
the  space  of  three  or  four.     There  is  nothing  in  any 
published  page  of  his  that  is  richer  in  all  the  qualities 
of  his  style,  nothing  more  graphic  in  description,  more 
pictorial  in  presentment,  than  this  long  letter,  which,  he 
says  at  the   end,  he   has  "  not   even   time  to  re-read." 
Chinese  ceremony,  costume,  architecture,  furniture,  man- 
darins, mob,  manners,  and  manoeuvres  are  rendered  as  if 
Retsch  had  sketched  and  Diedrich  Knickerbocker  writ- 
ten them. 

In  the  extracts  which  follow,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
fun  of  the  thing  may  have  been  a  pleasure  pretty  fairly 
divided  between  the  two  parties.  But  our  object  is  to 
show  what  manner  of  man  the  writer  was  at  twenty-four, 
and  get  him  in  all-sorts  before  the  reader  in  his  own 
drawn  likeness. 


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66 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


il 


THE  TWO  COMMISSIONERS. 

«Ki-ying  is  a  man;  and,  lest  this  should  not  be  con- 
Bidered  sufficiently  definite,  I  would  say,  in  the  true  cant 
of  a  describer,  that  he  is  a  man   above   the  medium 
height,  stout  rather  than  corpulent,  with  an  easy  walk, 
and  a  stand  perfectly  unconstrained.     His  face,  Chinese 
enough  to  modify  the  tartar,  had  a  rather  sleepy  expres- 
sion;    and  yet  the  smile,  though  nearly  sneering,  was 
animated  and  expressive.     The  eye  had  less  of  the  oval 
at  its  inner  canthus  than  a  southern  Chinese,  and  its 
pupil,  nearly  hidden  by  a  heavy  eyelid,  was  bright  and 
even  intellectual.     Such  was  the  blood-relation  of  the 
reigning  emperor  of  the  ^Flowery  Land,'  the  successor 
of  Lin,  ex-viceroy  of  Canton,  and  martyr  to  a  power- 
ful moral  sense    unsustained  by   the    information   of 

the  age.  ,      j    •    -ui 

« Except  by  powerful  proclamations   and   admirably 

written  protests,  poor  Lin  was,  in  accordance  with  the 

Chinese  policy  of  an  Imperial  commissioner,  aloof  from 

all  personal  intercourse  with  the  stranger.     With  Ki- 

ying  it  was  just  the  reverse.     He  had  played  d.gnity 

with  the  Portuguese,  and  l>affled  them;  played  the  jolly 

companion  with  Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  and  floored  him; 

and  now,  fresh  from  a  drunken  frolic  at  the  Bogue,  he 

met   upon   terms   of  cold  yet  equal   and  gentlemanly 

courtesy  the  Hon.  Caleb  Cushing,  of  the  United  States 

of  North  America. 

"  One  feature  the  two  commissioners  had  in  common,— 


KI-YING    AND    GUSHING. 


67 

an  artificial  one,— the  mustache.  With  the  American 
envoy  brown,  wiry,  truncated,  and  protruding;  with  the 
Imperial  dignitary  gray,  waving,  unclipt,  and  curling 
around  the  mouth.  The  one  a  wire  terrier,  the  other  a 
dew-lapped  mastiff.  Which  caught  the  rat  ?  You  shall 
see 

"Dinner  was  announced  by  a  single  servant,  who 
walked  up  to  Ki-ying,  and,  without  any  vulgar  obsequi- 
ousness,  did  his  errand. 

"Ki-ying,  very  much  in  the  same  style  with  which  a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school  would  take  by  the  hand  a 
youngish  lady,  led  in  Mr.  Gushing." 

THE  TWO  GENTLEMEN. 

"Wong  led  in  Commodore  Parker;  and,  before  I  leave 
these  two,  who  in  every  formal  visit  played  a  distin- 
guished  part,  I  may  say  of  them,  that  Wong  was,  by 
universal  consent,  the  most  gentlemanly,  self-relying,  and 
handsomest  Chinaman  we   had   any  of  us   seen;    and 
Commodore  Parker,  in  every  respect  his  superior,  sus- 
taining himself  fully,  wherever  he  might  be  placed,  with 
an  innate,  inherited  gentility,  which  extracted  marked 
respect  from  the  mandarins,  and  placed  his  American 
associates  instantly  at  their  ease.    An  opinion,  this,  only 
to  be  valued  because  derived  from  the  universal  voice  of 
the  American  community  in  China." 

THE  DINNER. 

The  pen  pauses  long  upon  the  decision,  but  it  must 
be  pretermitted,— all  but  the  summi'TiD-  im 


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68 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


"  People  here  say  it  was  a  noble  feast,  and  many  an 
old  merchant  has  gone  into  affected  raptures  at  Ki-ying's 
bounty.  Your  son  can  only  borrow  Uncle  P.'s  quotation 
of  the  rrenchmuu".i  climax,  which  marks,  with  pretty 
tolerable  accuracy,  the  seeing,  sitting,  and  rising  stages 
of  the  banquet : — '  Superbe,  magnifique,  pretty  well !' " 


THE  HEALTH  DRINKING. 

"  The  liquor,  warm  sam-shou,  a  distillation  from  rice, 
and,  as  Ki-ying  told  us,  flavored  with  a  Northern  grape 
most  highly  prized.  We  took  to  it  quite  naturally,  and 
the  dear  little  silver  oil-cans  from  which  it  guggled  were 
in  constant  requisition.  The  grape-flavor  was  remark- 
able. Had  we  not  known  otherwise,  we  should  have 
thought  it  a  Madeira  with  the  bouquet  of  Moselle :  it 
had  none  of  the  empyreumatic  taste  of  distilled  spirits. 

"  Health-drinking  with  the  Chinese  is  a  rather  serious 
matter.  First,  the  person  chin-chined,  or  complimented, 
grasps  the  stem  of  the  glass  with  both  hands,  and  stares 
smilingly  at  his  complimented  adversary.  Next,  they 
point  glasses  one  at  the  other,  and,  if  near,  they  hobnob, 
then  raise  slowly  and  drain  to  the  very  drop,  turning 
their  glasses  upside-down. 

"  Ki-ying  began  with  the  plenipotentiary ;  then  glided 
easily  to  Commodore  Parker,  who,  temperate  and  gentle- 
manly always,  raised  the  full  glass  to  his  lips,  smiled, 
and  emptied  it  in  his  plate, — thus  escaping  the  perils  of 
the  bumper  system. 

"There  was  among  the  Chinese  gentlemen  a  small- 


THE    ATTACHES. 


69 


poxed  mandarin,— not  that  cither  smallpox  or  mandarins 
are  scarce  in  China,— but  there  was  a  smallpoxed  man- 
darin, a  man  of  might :  he  sat  near  your  first-born.    When, 
in  the  routine  of  the  civilities,  all  the  mandarins  had  sam- 
shoued  the  higher  dignitaries  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  the 
aforesaid  mandarin  with  the  dotted  face  returned  to  one 
of  them  'Chin-chin  you  wan;  (wine.)     'With  pleasure;' 
and  over  went  the  glasses.     '  I  chin-chin  you  two  wan; 
(two  wines.)     Tip,  and  over  went  the  glasses.     '  I  chin- 
chin  you'  (holding  up  three  fingers)  Hmn:    The  respond- 
ing smile  was  more  sickly;  but,  too  gallant  to  flinch,  the 
challenge  was  met,  and  over  went  the  glasses  again,— 
about  the  eighth  already  emptied. 

"Seeing  this,  Webster,  myself,  and  some  others,  in 
revenge,  began  a  similar  game  with  Ki-ying.  It  was,  I 
mourn  to  say,  but  a  suspending  and  temporary  digres- 
sion from  the  general  epic  of  our  smallpoxed  hero. 
Once  more  he  filled  his  steaming  glass  and  chin-chined 

to  the  charge  again." 

"I  would  here  wander  from  the  Richard  and  Saladin  of 
this  desperate  encounter,  and  turn  to  a  race  of  nobodies 
known  as  the  attacMs.  These  devoted  men— those  who 
had  beards  and  those  who  hadn't— rallied  to  a  man  and 
to  a  boy.  The  duties  of  the  class  have  been,  like  them- 
selves, under-estimated.  In  the  case  of  our  embassy  to 
the  land  of  flowers,  they  had  to  dress  at  least  three  times 
a  day,  to  talk  with  the  light,  or  rather  heavy,  morning 
visitors,  to  drink  wine  with  the  supernumeraries  at  the 
legation-table,  and  even  to  answer  all  the  invitations,— 


< 


u.; 
< 


Ui 

X 
H 

o 

2: 


I 


70 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


previously  enclosing  them  in  scented  envelops,  and  seal- 
ing them  with  exceedingly  thin-sticked  sealing-wax.    And 
now  they  had  still  higher  duties.     Could  they  remain 
spectators   of  the  unequal  fight?    They  rallied  to  an 
individual.    Bristling  glasses  pointed  from  every  quarter 
at  the  smallpoxed  hero,  and  chin-chifls  were  uttered  in 
every  gamutine  graduation  from  thorough-bass  to  treble. 
Reluctantly  he  forsook   his   higher  game,  and  turned 
upon  his  new  assailants.     The   battle  raged.     The  re- 
prieved nose  of  his  antagonist  of  the  duello  gradually 
regained  its  wonted  pinch,  and  the   indomitable   man- 
darin, resigning  for  a  time  his  incipient  victory,  pro- 
ceeded to  immolate  on  the  spot  three  of  the  presump- 
tuous attaches  whose  devotion  had  hurled  them  within 
the  vortex  of  his  civilities. 

"And  so  the  dinner  passed  away.  No  speeches  were 
made  with  a  more  direct  bearing  upon  the  commercial 
interests  under  negotiation,  than  a  well-expressed  remark 
from  our  chief  that  'this  hiclie  de  mer  was  really  not  so 
bad,'— a  proposition  which  Ki-ying,  not  understanding, 
received  in  courteous  silence.  After  which  we  toasted 
the  Emperor  of  China,  hip-hipped  him,  hurraed  him, 
hiccupped  him,  and  withdrew." 


A  DANCE, 


Which  was  a  diplomatic  device.  The  device  having 
been  neatly  dodged  by  Ki-ying,  the  dance  had  to  come 
off,  nevertheless. 

«At  last,  on  the  25th  of  June,  another  interview 


A    DIPLOMATIC    DANCE. 


71 


must  be  had  with  Ki-ying :  every  thing  was  ripe  for  it. 
Mr.  Gushing  did  not  personally  see  the  subordinates. 
How  should  the  interview  be  made  available  ?  for  it  was 
to  decide  much." 

"The  American  ladies!  "What  have  the  American 
ladies  to  do  with  it?  Listen.  It  was  determined  that 
Ki-ying  should  again  Tiffin,— i.e.  in  the  language  of  the 
Eastern  world,  take  a  dinner-luncheon;  that  the  ladies 
should  meet  himj  and  that  informally,  but  in  goodly 
numbers,  and  in  less  than  two  hours,  they  should  all  be 
there. 

"  Mr.  C.  gave  me  a  carte  hlanche,  and,  with  the  character- 
istic modesty  which  I  inherit,  your  interesting  eldest  paid 
an  accidental  morning  call  to  all  Macao,  and  collected, 
for  the  good  of  his  country,  thirteen  ladies  and  a  child. 
Distinguished  services,  for  which  I  received  a  cholera 
morbus  and  the  thanks  of  Mr.  Gushing. 

"O'Donnell  and  myself  presided.  Mr.  Gushing,  Web- 
ster, Wong,  and  Ki-ying  w^ere,  with  the  interpreters,  in 
close  confab  in  the  forward  parlor.  Strange,  how  little 
things  are  mixed  with  big:  that  trivial  ante-dinner 
interview  decided  the  entire  object  of  the  Ghinese  lega- 
tion! 

"Dinner  now  one  hour  on  the  table:  thirteen  ladies 
with  seven  husbands  are  no  trifles  to  keep  amiable. 
'Why  didn't  Mr.  Gushing  show  them  Ki-ying  and  be 
done  with  it?'  Mrs.  R  would  not  have  stood  it, 
(she  was  not  there;)  and  as  for  my  friend  Mrs.  T.,  she 
thought  it  quite   rude.      Two  hours  passed  by:   small 


I 


< 
< 


d 

X 
H 

Q 

23 


72 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


talk  entirely  run  out.  A  half-hour  more,  and  the  fold, 
whose  humble  office  of  diplomacy  it  had  been  mine  to 
bring  together,  were  on  an  ear-pricking  qui  vlve.  They 
had  heard  from  James,  who  had  heard  from  the  Chong, 
who  had  heard  from  the  sentry,  that  Mr.  Gushing  had 
said,  'And  now  let's  go  to  Tiffin.'  They  were  all  on 
intelligent  tiptoe  for  the  exhibition  of  five  living  Chinese 
mandarins,  'nobles  of  high  degree.' 

"The  'now  let's  go  to  Tiffin'  of  Mr.  C.  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  a  familiar  sound  saboting  along  the  hall. 
The  two  Excellencies,  Wong,  Pownting-gua,  and  the 
three  other  attaches,  were  ushered  in  eu  (jroupe.  The 
ladies  were  introduced,  and  after  some  interesting  con- 
versation, confined,  with  much  tact,  to  an  examination 
of  shawls,  necklaces,  dresses,  caps,  and  teeth,  Ki-ying 
■was  taught  the  European  absurdity  which  converts  the 
arm  into  a  pothook.  Mrs.  P.  made  a  link  with  the  vice- 
roy, and,  the  minor  men  and  minor  maids  following  their 
example,  we  walked  in  to  dinner. 

"It  has  been  my  lot,  in  some  few  of  the  many  dinners 
which  I  have  of  late  attended,  to  be  a  seated  companion 
of  seated  statues :  and  so  we  were,  all  of  us,  at  the  well- 
remembered  Ki-ying  dinner  of  the  24  th.  Our  attempts 
to  look  jovial  were  as  ludicrous  as  our  aitei  ipts  to  look 
comfortable;  yet,  occasionally  drinking  hcaltlis,  and  some- 
times inwardly  laughing  at  the  contortions  which  Chu- 
teau-Margaux  induced  in  Chinese  features,  we  sat  oat 
our  sit.  * 

"  Mr.  Cushing  was  anxious,  nervous,  not  quite  at  home ; 


THE    YANKEES    CHECKMATED. 


73 


Ki-ying dignified;  Dr.  Bridgeman  chop-fallen :  something 
had  gone  wrong."  ' 

It  had  been  settled,  in  that  "ante-dinner  confab,"  for 
the  hope  of  visiting  the  Imperial  palace  and  seeing  the 
Majesty  of  the  Celestials  in  his  own  proper  person,  in 
Mr.  Webster's  phrase,  "No  Pekin."  Ki-ying  had  put  it 
squarely  to  Mr.  C.  "Should  you  negotiate  with  :ne, 
Pekin  is  a  second  matter,  and  that  either  he  (Ki-ying) 
was  a  negotiating  envoy  and  Pekin  unnccessarj^,  or 
Pekin  the  primaiy  object,  and  he  (Ki-ying)  unnecessary." 

"  Two  hours  after,  I  was  in  a  chartered  boat,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  and  threading  the  ladrone  dangers  of  the  Can- 
ton River.     I  was  a  freed  man." 


Of 


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Urn 
Urn 


O 


i 


CHAPTER  V. 

TESTIMONY  OF  THE  SECRETARY  AND  CHAPLAIN  OF  THE  MISSION — 
PROFESSIONAL  PRACTICE  IN  CHINA — RICE-FEVER  ATTACK — HOME- 
WARD— BORNEO — SINGAPORE— SUMATRA — INTERIOR  INDIA — PERSIA 
AND  SYRIA — THE    NILE,    FROM    THE   SEA   TO   SENNAAR — PROFESSOR 

LEPSIUS — LIFE    AT     THEBES — EGYPTOLOGY — NILOTIC     DILUVIUM 

BOAT-WRECK — SKIRMISH  WITH  BEDOUINS — ATTACK  OF  THE  PLAGUE. 


The  negotiations  terminated,  the  frigate  left  her 
station  at  Macao,  homeward  bound,  in  August,  1844. 
Dr.  Kane,  not  intending  to  return  with  his  companions, 
had  resigned  his  post  of  physician  to  the  legation,  and 
was  even  meditating  a  resignation  from  the  navy,  in 
which  up  to  this  time  he  had  been  an  unpaid,  though 
otherwise  a  kindly-requited,  laborer.  It  is  believed  that 
he  intended  to  practise  his  profession  in  China  long 
enough  to  put  himself  in  fands  for  a  long  run  of  travel 
in  the  East.  Fifteen  months'  indulgence  and  enjoyment 
through  a  range  so  large  and  rich  as  lie  had  made  it, 
fully  revealed  his  destiny  to  him;  and  all  other  occupa- 
tion must  now  be  only  subsidiary  to  this  leading  object 

of  his  life. 
74 


TESTIMONY    OF    MR.    WEBSTER. 


76 


What  we  have  been  able 


we  nave  oeen  able  to  gather  of  the  incidents  ux 
his  sojourn  in  China,  after  the  departure  of  his  friends, 
will  bo  given  when  we  have  first  secured  the  brief  but 
valuable  contributions  to  these  recollections  made  by 
two  of  his  associates  in  the  diplomatic  voyage. 

Fletcher  Webster,  Esq.,  was  secretary  to  the  legation 
From  his  letters,  in  which  he  intended  rather  to  assist 
than  to  answer  our  inquiries,  we  take  a  few  helpful 
extracts : — 

"I  first  met  Dr.  Kane,  as  physician  to  our  mission  to 
China,  on  board  the  Brandywine,  at  Bombay,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1843.  I  was  secretary  to  the  mission,  and  an  inter- 
course  sprang  up  between  us  which  rapidly  grew  into  a 
warm  friendship. 

"  Dr.  Kane  had,  I  think,  just  returned  from  a  trip 
into  the  interior  of  India  as  far  as  Poonah  and  the 
cave-temples  at  Karli,  which  he  had  an  opportunity  to 
make  while  the  frigate  lay  in  port  waiting  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Cushing.  I  was  at  once  struck  by  the  activity 
and  energy  of  the  doctor,  who  was  never  for  a  moment 
Idle,  or  seemed  enervated  by  the  climate;  and  the  officers 
of  the  ship  remarked  that  he  could  never  keep  quiet 

"We  left  Bombay  for  Ceylon;  and  we   had   hardly 

touclied  at  Colombo  before  he  was  off  on  an  expedition 

to  Kandy,  the  former  capital-city  of  the   island,  some 

.^ixty  miles  distant  in  the  interior. 

"  On  our  long  voyage  from  Ceylon  to  Macao  I  hnd  an 

opportunity  of  learning  Dr.  Kane  well Highly 

accomplished  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  he  seemed  to 


f 


OS 

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fa 

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X 

O 

23 


76 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


% 


think  very  lightly  of  his  acquirements  in  the  profession, 
and  to  be  continually  looking  forward  to  something 
beyond. 

"  He  was  very  fond  of  the  exact  sciences,  and  was  an 
indefatigable  student, — evidently  annoyed  when  not  en- 
gaged in  something,  and  always  restless  unless  busy, — 
for  hours  in  the  state-room  buried  in  mathematics,  and 
then  next  seen  at  the  mast-head  or  over  the  vessel's  side. 

"On  our  reaching  Macao,  Dr.  K.  and  the  rest  of  us 
established  ourselves  on  shore;  and,  while  waiting  the 
slow  proceedings  of  the  Chinese  authorities,  he  made 
flying  visits  to  Hong-Kong  and  Canton,  returned  to 
examine  the  environs  of  Macao  and  the  islands  in  the 
harbor, — excursions  always  attended  with  a  good  deal  of 
personal  danger, — and  had  explored  the  whole  town 
itself  before  we,  of  slower  motions,  had  commenced.  .  .  . 

"He  remained  but  a  short  time  with  us  at  Macao, 
but  on  leave  of  absence  went  to  Luconia.  He  landed  at 
Manila,  and  thence  proceded  entirely  across  the  island 
to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  saw  all  its  greatest  curi- 
osities, and,  on  his  return  to  Ma-^ao,  established  himself 
as  a  physician  at  Whampoa  Reach,  in  the  Canton  River, 
W'here  he  soon  acquired  an  extensive  practice  among 
the  shipping  which  usually  lies  there  in  great  num- 
bers. When  I  left  Macao,  in  August,  1844,  he  was 
still  there 

"Dr.  Kane  was  a  person  of  very  nice  modesty, — not 
given  to  much  talking,  and  not  eminently  social, — that  is, 
as  I  found  him.     In  social  intercourse,  although  agree- 


TESTIMONY    OF^KEV.    GEOKGE    JONES.  77 

able  ,.„d  very  bright  .1::::^^^  out,  he  still  seeded 
to  be  thinking  of  something  above  and  be>-ond  what 
Wcas  present. 

"To  his  great  scientific  taste  and  knowledge,  and  his 
energy  and  resolution,  !,e  added  a  conrage  of  tlie  most 
dauntless  kmd.  The  idea  of  personal  apprehension 
seemed  never  to  cross  his  mind.  He  was  ambitious,  not 
of  mere  personal  distinction,  but  of  achievements  useful 
to  mankind  and  promotive  of  science." 

The  Rev.  Geo,  Jones,  of  Brooklyn,  chaplain  to  the 
China  m^.ssion,  speaks  of  him,  as  he  knew  him  on  the 
voyage  and  at  Macao,  thus  :— 

"He  was  then  very  y„uthful-h  .king,  with  a  smooth 
face,  a  tlond   complexion,  very  .lelicate   form,  smaller 
than  the  common  size,  but  with  an  elastic  step,  a  bright 
eye  and  a  great  enthusiasm  in  manner,  which  also  mixed 
t.elf  with  h,s  conversation.     He  seemed  to  be  .all  hope, 
a  1  ardor,  and  his  eye  appeared  already  to  take  in    he 
wl.o.0  worid  as  his  own.     He  was  very  gentlemanly  in 
!..«  appearance  and  conduct.     His  conversation  showed 
a  great  deal  of  such  intelligence  as  is  gained  from  books 
and  a  gi.at  desire  to  learn  on  all  topics.     I  soon  found 
1.0  was  also  ready  and  skilful  with  his  pencil  as  well  as 
'l"-ok  m  the  n,se  of  his  pen.     All  the  ele„,ents  of  the 
•-  «'quently  distinguished  man  were  there,  only  waiting 
to  be  brought  mfn  v^^e. 

"1  had  very  goo.]  opportunities  xbr  observing  him  as 
I  wa.  attached  to  the  .hip  as  chaplain,  and  as  the  leiter 
01  introuuction,  (from  ou.  nuUnal  friend  Elisha  Channcey, 


< 


Ml 

0^ 


'■X. 

Oi 

a 

23 


t. 


78 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,)  together  with  some  affinities  in 
taste,  brought  us  frequently  together  during  the  voyage, 
and  subsequently  to  our  arrival  in  the  China  Sea.     I 
was  often  struck  with  his  simplicity  of  manner;    for, 
with  his  good  sense,  he  had  often  also,  in  worldly  things, 
almost  the  simplicity  of  a  child.     This  led  him  to  be 
undervalued  by  those  who  could  not  see  the  strength  of 
character  and  energy  that  underlaid  the  outside  cover- 
ing, but  v/hich  showed  themselves  whenever  any  thing 
was  to  be  done,  any  enterprise  to  be  undertaken,   or 
knowledge  to  be  gained.     All  this  shone  out  whenever 
our  ship  touched  at  any  port;  for  he  was  then  every- 
where. With  an  activity  that  seemed  to  take  no  rest. 
His  journals,  i  suppose,  will  show  all  this.     His  visit  to 
the  interior  of  Luzon  is  especially  remarkable ;  but  at 
Rio,  at  Bombay,  and  ac  Ceylon  he  visited  every  thing 
that  was  worth  seeing,  often  in  distant  excursions  from 

the  ship. 

"  His  attachments  were  very  strong,  and  his  labors  to 
benefit  those  he  took  an  interest  in  were  self-sacrificing 
and  enduring.  He  was  very  unselfish.  His  morals,  I 
believe,  were  good,  and  his  religious  Lentiments,  though 
now  standing  for  the  first  time  the  test  of  a  com- 
mingling with  the  world,  stood  it  very  well." 

All  that  we  know  of  bis  fortunes  in  China  for  the 
succeeding  six  months  is,  that,  while  engaged  in  very 
successful  practice  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  at  Wham- 
poa,  he  was  stricken  down  at  the  close  of  1844  with  the 
rice-fever.      Mr.  Ritchie,  of  Canton,  took  him   to  his 


;  .1 


BOKNEO  — SUMATRA. 


70 


hosprtable  home,  where  he  was  nursed  with  the  kindest 
care  It  was  a  hard  struggle;  but  the  life-power  had  the 
mas  ery  Th.s  illness  broke  up  his  plan  Tf  professionj 
practice  there,  and  he  resolved  to  come  home 

Mr.  Dent,  the  son  of  a  British  oflicial  at  Madras,  was 
a  so  .„  deheate  health,  and  it  was  arranged  that  th    two 
should  take  the  overland   route  for   Europe    together 
They  saded  in  January,  1845.     The  next  monttthe;' 

borngtg' :ti;"t  r~'^^  ^^*"'-' 

o    n  10  tne  lii,t..h,  situated  on  an  island  at  the 
.out  ern  extremity  of  the  peninsula  of  Malacca,  and,  a 
nearly  as  may  be,  under  the  Equator.     In  hi    . J, 

two  of  the  places  m  the  East  which  he  had  visited.  It 
.p™  able  t  at  while  at  Singapore  he  availed  himself 
of  the  facdUies  afforded  by  this  greac  emporium  of 
he  trade  of  t  ese  ,,eas  for  e.xcursions  east  and  west 
to  these  two  islands.  He  was  at  Upernavick,  on  the 
west  coast  of  Greenland,   distant  six  years  of  time 

»..v ty-five  of  west  longitude,  whon  one  of  those  world- 
wide  contrasts  which  were  so  frequent  in  his  expeil 
enees  enlivened  the  relish  of  a  dwarfed  radk;.  with  thl 

Borneo  the  cherimoya  of  Peru,  the  pine  of  Sumatra,  and 
«  e  seekel-pear  of  Schuylkill  Meadows-  and  he  joumal- 
-d  his  enjoyment  of  the  first  fresh  vegetable  lie  hid 

I'ave-for  this  stage  of  his  Oriental  journey. 


eg 

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a 

UJ 

.laaw, 

O 

Zi 


80 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


From  Singapore  they  crossed  the  Bay  of  Bengal  tc 
Ceylon,  and  thence  to  the  Anglo-Indian  peninsula. 

Some   months  were   spent  in  a  tour  of  exploration 
through  the  interior  of  India,  including  the  ascent  of 
the  Himalaya  Mountains.     Tlie  Zemindar  Dwakanoth 
Tagore,  by  courtesy  styled  Prince  Tagore,  one  of  the 
wealthiest  of  the  native  nobles  of  Calcutta,  was  preparing 
for  a  visit  to  the   court  of  Queen  Victoria;   and,    Mr= 
Dent's  health  having  been  so  far  restored  as  to  allow  a 
change  of  their  plan  of  travelling  homeward  together. 
Dr.  Kane  passed,  with  his   consent,  into   the   prince's 
suite.     The  interval  before  the  party  started  for  Alexan- 
dria was  passed  in  travelling  wherever  historical  memo- 
rials or  scientific  research  invited  him.     He  had  every 
facility   that   the    ample   means   of    the    prince,    most 
generously  dispensed,  could  supply;    but  we  have  no 
record  of  his  Indian  explorations. 

He  reached  the  shore  of  the  Mediterranean  in  April, 
1845,  and,  bidding  a  reluctant  good-by  to  his  friend  and 
patron,  under  whose  safe-conduct  he  had  traversed 
Persia  and  Syria,  he  bent  his  way  to  the  regions  of  the 

Upper  Nile. 

Pasha  Mehemet  Ali,  the  politic,  if  not  the  liberal, 
reformer  of  Egypt,  to  whom  the  doctor  was  introduced 
by  Prince  Tagore,  gave  him  a  special  firman  for  his  pro- 
tection ;  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  Egyptian  Asso- 
ciation of  Grand  Cairo,  which  had  elected  him  a  member, 
he  hoisted  the  American  flag  and  headed  his  little  boat 


AT    THEBES. 


81 


toward  the   PyramidsT^iZTh^bea    ,n^   ti. 
Cataract.  '   """^   ^^^    »«'=°°'l 

A  letter  dated  at  Thebes,  May  2,  1845,  coverin.  half 
a  doz  ,  ^^^^^^^^  ^  ^^^  ^^^^^^.     a 

authoritie.     He  t:^:  l'   "^   ''"  '"'^^'''^<'  *»  «*her 

in  ?lr  of'?  '"  """^  '^^^  ^*"^'  -»^-°g  about 
n  a  state  of  amazement,  unable  profitably  to  see  anv 

h.ng.     Perhaps  it  may  to  you  seem  an  absurdit"   Z 
there  ,s  something  so  vast  in  fl>o  a-         ■ 
colossal  r„in,  tK  *  t  dimensions  of  these 

colossal  rums  that  I  cannot  embrace  details;  and,  indeed 
r  almost  fear  that  I  shall  leave  Thebes  wi thou  u 
definite  impression  of  any  thing  but  magnitude. 

of  th?0 -T  "  T"'  "^°"  ''"'  ^"O"--  f°ot  of  one 
of  the  Osiride  columns  i„  the  Memnonium;  my  break 
fa^t,  yet  awaiting  me,  is   on  the  other.     ForlSght" 
^u.ns  a     beM„a  me,  grouped  around  my  bed.  S 
root  which  they  support  throws  its  shadow  upon  this 
respectable  epistle.     I  have  taken  lodgings  in  the  n»l 
ten-'ple  of  Sesostris.  "    ^  "  J"*'*"^ 

"Thanks  to  Dwakanoth  Ta^ore  and  tI,o 
influence  of  my   Chinn.  tUl      t  ,        **' ^"--^ -"^agre 
member  of  th„  P      .  '       '''^"  *'''^"  ^'^oted  a 

hon'r  w    ci        ''"        "™*^'-'  "'"^^^'>»'  ""b'o- 
condemned  me  to  a  folnf  t  '^  '    "  '  '''"■'"■^'  ''"'^ 

of  «ueh  .en  as  Stevens,  and  to  read,  wit/the  00^ 


Oil 


4: 

a 

H 

O 

23 


82 


ELISUA  KENT   KANE. 


itself  for  my  atlas,  the  noble  labors  of  Cailliaud  and 

Wilkinson. 

"This  is  very  delightful  for  a  sight-seer,  but  very 
mortifying  to  an  ignorant  man  like  myself,  for  my 
boundary  is  fixed  and  limited  as  my  own  information. 
Nothing  can  be  more  exciting  than  the  intelligent  study 
of  Egyptian  antiquities. 

«  Since  Champoilion  gave  tongues  to  stones,  by  clothing 
these  wonderful  remains  with  the  interest  of  a  recorded 
history,  Egypt  has  undergone  a  complete  revolution.    It 
is  no  longer  a  place  for  sage  Mr.  Oldbucks  and  ingenious 
gentlemen  of  the  Bill  Stumps  class.     It  is  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  a  great  library  of  monumental  history, 
where  all  that  is  wanted  is  the  patient  If        of  a  reader. 
"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  I  have  h,     a  corespond- 
ing  acquaintance  (now  a  personal  one)  with  Professor 
Lepsius,  of  Berlin  and  Rome.  ...  I  met  him,  seated 
cross-legged  in   the   great   temple  of  Karnak,  supping 
coffee  and  copying  hieroglyphics.     He  is  at  the  head  of 
the  great  Prussian  commission;  and  it  gratified  me  not  a 
little,  during  our  long  talks,  to  find  that  he  knew  the 
Recording   Secretary  of   the    American    Philosophical 
Society;  and  it  required  a  very  tolerable  strain  of  my 
tolerably  plastic  countenance  to  sustain  myself  in  the 
scientific  position  which,  by  reflection  or  inheritance,  I 
was  supposed  to  occupy. 

"  I  dare  say  that  Mr.  Gliddon  has  crammed  you  suffi- 
ciently to  make  my  own  literal  descriptions  useless ;  or, 
if  he  has  not,  I  yield  me  to  mosquitos  and  this  awful 


TKOPESSOB    LEPSIPS. 


83 


khamp«„,  and  spare  my  imagination.    As    however 
".y  portfolio  contains  hut  two  sheets  of  pa^r  Td  ^ 

have  determined  to  fi„  them  both,  I  deliver  l^Z 
by  an  easy  labor,  giving  you,  as  I  had  it  repltedt 
frequent  conversations,  the  outline  of  the  laborroTth 
great  Prussian  commission  "  *^ 

An  oj«t  report  of  the  expedition  of  Opsins  and  his 

Tlv  m     t  ,Tjf "'  J""™'^^'"^'^'  -'J  dates,  from 
n-   «t '.      *'  "'"^  •"■  "^'^  '««»■•.  follows. 
I  .s  fi  le    with  valuable  information  which  was  news 

to  all  the  students  of  archscology 

Mingled  with  the  narrative  of  the  journeyings  of  the 
~Z'!i  "^'':r'  -  -sionafinLltl 

„n         great  (Nubian)  desert  to  Abou  Ahmed  ™d 
Berber,  a  journey  of  twelve  days,  with  fifty-two  H 
■■■  Aecompamed  by  his  chaplain,  he  ascended  the  B^ 

'"  "^P"''  ^5,  at  the  pyramids  of  Mercie 

Cts  t  z:i:'':t  t  •'"'  ■^'^ '-'  --'- 

e-sive,<.and"tasi::::^l----; 

make  my  detour  from  Esneh  (Upper  £v  n  to  t,    '^ ' 
wells  inrl  Ak,  J      XI.  ^    li^^^ -^Sjptj  to  the  oasis- 

and  Ab,.dos,  this  poor,  scabby,  sun-bn.„t  economist 


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84 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


r 


will  ride  on  top  of  a  water-skin,  with  a  retinue  of  two 
dromedaries  instead  of  fifty-two 

"From  this  moment  (the  professor's  return  from  the 
Blue  Nile)  he  rested,  or  rather  labored,  at  Thebes :  the 
great  temple  of  Karnak  became  his  lodging-house,  and 
Joseph's  sanctuary  his  kitchen ;  and  here,  dear  father,  I, 
supping  coffee  in  the  temple  of  Sesostris,  would  scribble 
notes  to  my  Karnak  friend  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
or  pay  running  visits  to  a  couple  of  Germans  who 
lodged  up  the  hill  in  an  excavated  tomb. 

"  My  Thebes  life  is  a  very  wild  one :  I  am  in  native 
dress,  with  a  beard  so  long  that  I  have  to  tack  it  in. 
My  lodging  is  on  the  hot  ground,  and  I  walk  on  an 
average  twenty-six  miles  a  day.  Cartilaginous  pigeons 
— delicious  young  squabs — form  the  basis  of  a  meal  or 
series  of  meals,  which,  numbering  five  per  diem,  com- 
mence at  four  A.M.  and  end  at  nine  in  the  evening, 
coflfee  being  the  great  diluent, — tea  without  sugar." 

Sitting  in  the  temple  of  Rameses  II.,  whose  reign 
Lepsius  puts  in  the  fourteenth  century  before  Christ,  or 
about  the  time  when  Jael  the  wife  of  Heber  drove  a 
nail  into  the  temple  of  Sisera,  and  nearly  two  centuries 
before  Samson  pulled  down  the  temple  of  Dagon  upon  the 
aristocracy  of  the  Philistines,  it  was  but  natural  for  him 
to  give  himself  up  for  a  while  to  the  wonderment  of  that 
eternity  past  which  bewilders  the  Egyptian  traveller; 
but  the  brain  that  would  not  freeze  at  the  North  Pole 
did  not  melt  at  Thebes,  and  he  came  away  as  little 
intoxicated  by  the  thirty-six  thousand  five  hundred  and 


EGYPTOLOGY. 


85 


twenty-five  years  of  the  E^^^ay.^,,,^  ,hich  ended 

era  began,  a«  tf  he  intended  to  wait  till  Lepsius  and 
WJk,nson    a„d  Gliddon  should  a,ree  with  tCeLe 
and  each  other,  within  a  few  hundi^ds  of  years  aTlen  T 
about  the  date  of  the  fourth  dynasty         '  '"'' 

Bas  deference  for  the  authorities  seems  to  have  secuz^d 
h.s  assent  to  the  date  23C0  b.o.  for  Menes  the  firstpZ! 

raoh.  but  he  turns  from  the  chaos  of  chrondjlnd 
osmogony  with  instinctive  avidity  to  the  terra^'firt 
fa^  s  of  t,mes  changes  which  lay  befo.  him  and  pr^" 
cally  concerned  his  specialty  of  study  and  enterpr^"" 
One  of  the  most  remarkable  discoveries  is  as  to  th„ 
Phys.cal  conformation  of  the  old  mother-riverWpl. 
offsprmg,     the  Valley  of  the  Nile.     Mention  this  tTMr 
Rogers   unless  his  correspondence  may  have  prelded 
you.    Lepsius  paid  particular  attention  to  some  hit 

Semna,  for,  m  a  country  as  old  as  this,  antiquity  is 
engraved  upon  antiquity,  and  the  scribblin.  insciL 
of  traveUers  often  give  information  of  the  highe  t  ydue 
He  saw  here  the  highest  rise  of  the  Nile,  at  th!  ^l' 
dunng  cghteen  diffcnt  years  under  the  government  of 
Menes  and  his  successors,  from  which  we  eTn  thai 
nearly  two  ,housand  two  hundred  yea. I^  Chn^ 

evel      the  Nde  at  that  place  was  twenty-two  feet  high  r 
ban  at  present;  while  Wow  the  first  cataract  at  SiMs 
"  »PP-  fro-  the  grottoes  in  the  rocks,  the  level   f  ^ 


'4 
iJ«: 


0C 

X. 

a 

25 


ir^PHQ 


•1l 


1 


86 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


river  was  at  least  three  feet,  and  probably  more,  below 
its  present  condition. 

"  This  struck  me  as  especially  curious,  for  my  own 
observations  at  Manfalout,  (27°  north  latitude,)  and  the 
excellent  conclusions  drawn  from  the  great  Colossi  of 
Thebes,  prove  with  almost  absolute  certainty  that  the 
Valley  of  the  Nile  at  Luxor  is  nearly  seven  feet  higher 
than  at  the  date  of  their  construction.  .  .  . 

"  The  changes  which  have  occurred  in  this  belt  are  of 
the  highest  interest;  for,  after  all,  whether  it  be  the 
coast-line  of  the  Delta,  or  the  beautiful  Fayoum,  or  the 
narrow  strip  which  leaves  by-gone  cities  crumbling  in 
the  encroaching  sands,  the  source  is  the  same :  the 
great  mother  scatters  her  blessings  and  her  curses  at 
each  inundation,  and  a  fixed  rate  of  increase  or  decrease 
would  be  of  practical  importance  almost  beyond  calcu- 
lation. 

"  Your  society  will  be  the  gainer  if  I  succeed  in 
passing  my  collection  at  Alexandria.  I  have  two  royal 
ovals  in  colors  as  fresh  as  my  Chinese  miniatures;  and 
yet  their  groundwork  is  the  limestone  wall  of  an 
excavated  sepulchre,  and  the  artist  some  Pharaonic 
worthy  of  three  thousand  years'  antiquity.  The  statue 
trunk,  coming,  as  it  does,  from  Tel-el-Amaina,  will  be  of 
great  interest." 

The  accident  by  which  his  journals  and  baggage  were 
lost  is  thus  related  : — 

"  I  wrote  from  Gizneii  by  special  messenger,  informing 
you  of  tlie  melancholy  loss  of  my  baggage.     Sympathize 


BOAT-WRECK. 


87 

Jith  this  poor,  very  poor,  devil,  who,  alone  in  a  sandy 
deserl,  rejo.ce.  ,n  three  shirts,  a  pair  of  sUppers,  and  a 
boat-cloak.     I  rehearse  in  duplicate  its  details 

"  Dendera  is  but  six  miles  from  the  ancient  Tentyrus 
a  pleasant  walk,  which  intending  to  enjoy  before  the 
sun  heated  the  sands,  induced  me  to  bivouack  on  aslope 
of  the  nver-bank  in  order  to  start  in  the  smaU  hours 
of  the  morning.    Preparatory  to  a  house^leaning  during 
my  absence,  I  drew  the  boat  upon  the  land-slope,  and 
then,  ^  wa.  my  custom,  placed  my  baggage  on  a  plat- 
form  of  boards,-one  end  of  which  rested  on  the  shore, 
tto  other,  dry  and  comfortable,  on  the  gunwale  of  the 

"My  pilot  laid  his  :,.ge  carcass  over  this  Kttle 
isthmus  of  household  goods;  and  your  son,  cloaked  and 
carpeted,  went  to  sleep  upon  the  sands.  In  the  mom- 
ing-Lord  help  me.-.I  was  the  first  to  rise;  but  boat, 
platform,  baggage,  all  was  gone.     Nothing  met  my  eyes 

desolatT'  ""'*""'  ""'''  ''"*''"''''  """  ^"P'^'^ 
"I  cannot  fill  up  an  old  woman's  letter,  of  the  how 
and  the  why  and  the  when,_how  I  felt  and  what  I 
did.  AH  that  I  can  say  is  that  my  boat  was  recovei^d 
two  miles  down  the  stream,  and  that,  as  far  as  my  mys- 
tified senses  can  account  for  the  affair,  the  rapid  current 

Sd  t?  '/"'"',  '*"*""''   ""'^''™'"«'^  -3'  boat,' 
.1    d  the  side  weighed  down  by  my  trunks,  noiselessi; 

canted  them  mte  the  stream,  and  then,  relieved  of  the 
"•eight,  floated  silently  away. 


I 
ff 


> 

to 


pi 

a 


m  Hi 


88 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


"  I  am  heart-sick  at  this  loss.  Nothing  in  the  great 
scale  of  ups  and  .downs  which  I  have  experienced,  you 
would  say;  but  most  depressing  in  its  consequences. 
Only  one  thing  remains  to  comfort  me;  and  that  is, 
that,  taught  by  persecution  a  little  foresight,  I  had  pre- 
viously sent  to  England  my  best  clothes  and — thank 
Heaven ! — my  diplomas.  But  still  my  list  of  losses  is 
more  than  enough  to  try  my  well-tried  purse  and  better- 
tried  philosophy. 

"The  idle  hours  of  the  sleepy  Nile  I  had  devoted 
'-  the  arrangement  of  my  collection,  papers,  &c.  They 
are  all  gone :  even  Dr.  Morton's  skulls  have  sunk  in 
the  quicksands.  One  thing  more,  (it  ends  my  story: 
how  shall  I  say  it !)  I  have  lost  my  watch.  Remaining 
are  dear  mother's  battered  writing-desk,  containing  my 
business  correspondence  and  my  money,  my  legation 
sword,  valued  for  old  associations,  and  a  carpet-bag  of 
shirts.     No  jackets,  no  boots,  and  no  pantaloons." 

Whether  this  was  the  true,  or,  at  least,  the  whole 
explanation  of  his  loss,  he  had  afterward  good  reason  to 
doubt.  Some  days  after  it  occurred,  as  he  was  landing 
from  his  boat,  borne  through  the  water  on  the  shoulders 
of  his  interpreter,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  watch-chain 
suspended  round  the  fellow's  neck,  and  he  succeeded, 
after  a  severe  tussle  and  a  good  ducking,  in  recovering  a 
part  of  the  chain,  and  with  it  the  watch  itself.  The 
rascal  made  his  escape  with  the  rest  of  his  plunder, 
which  most  probably  amounted  to  all  that  he  coveted 
of  the  swamped  cargo. 


ATTACK    OF    THE    PLAOUE.  gg 

He  had  been  hetorT'ii^T;;^^^,^  ;„  ^.^  , 
»*.  w.th   a  party  of   Bedouins  who   attempL   to 
Ob  bun    and  was  glad  on  his   arrival  at  AleLdr^^ 
to  put  himself  under  surgical  treatment.     But  a  nel 
v.s,tat,on  awa.ted  hin.  here.    He  had  an  attaok  of  thi 
plague;  and  during  his  illness,  which  nearly  cost  him 
h.s  hfe   the  collections  which  he  had  made  and  sen" 
down   the  nver  from  time  to  time  by  his  occasion! 
opportunities,  ^ere  dissipated  and  lost 


X 


p 


CHAPTER  VL 


BTATUE  OP  MEMNON— THE  ASCENSION,  RISK,  ESCAPE — GREECE  TRA' 
VEiaSED  AFOOT — GERMANY — SWITZERLAND — PARIS— SURGICAL  PRAC- 
TICE IN  THE  EAST — A  LETTER — ITALY — ENGLAND — ALL  THE  WORLD 
OVER — A  WINTER  AT  HOME — REPUGNANCE  TO  "THE  SERVICE" — 
WAITING  ORDERS — MIS-SENT — COAST  OP  GUINEA — ^-TTOMEY — PAT- 
TERN OP  A  KING — BIRTHDAY  ODE — PREROGATIVE  ROYAL — MAGNIFI- 
CENCE— THE  SLAVE-TRADE — HUMAN  SACRIFICE — THE  COAST-FEVER 
— SENT  HOME — THE  FLEET-SURGEON'S  REPORT. 


Before  Dr.  Kane  could  take  his  departure  "  from  the 
river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  it  must  needs  be  that 
some  adventure  characteristic  of  the  man,  and  in  keep- 
ing with  the  wonders  of  the  region,  should  signalize 
his  visit. 

The  volcano  of  Tael  had  tempted  him  to  brave  the 
perils  of  its  descent  by  the  mysteries  of  nature  hidden 
away  in  its  depths ;  and  here  the  towering  wonders  of 
human  art,  as  tempting  for  the  hidden  things  which 
they  expose  to  dubious  and  difficult  research,  were  all 
around  him.  An  army  of  antiquaries  were  busy  disin- 
terring the  mummy-history  of  Egypt  from  the  ruins  at 
their  feet,   and   deciphering  the    hieroglyphics   every- 

eo 


STATUE   or    MEKNOir. 


91 


where  within  easy  reach  of  inspection.  They  bn)ught 
science  and  patience  to  their  task,  and  sat "  cross-W' 
at  their  work.  Was  there  any  margin  of  exploration 
among  these  labyrinthine  ruins  and  colossal  monu- 
ments  for  an  athlete  who,  at  the  risk  of  his  neck,  might 
wnng  the  heart  out  of  some  mystery  beyond  their 
danng?    We  shall  see. 

The  statue  of  Memnon,  of  marvellous  fame,  is  the 
northeastern  of  the  two  colossal  granite  figures  which 
staad  on  the  plain  near  Medinet^Abou,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Nile,  opposite  Luxor  and  Kamac.  It  is  ascer- 
tained to  be  the  musical  statue  which  greeted  the  sun- 
nse,  by  the  multitude  of  inscriptions  that  testify  its 
miraculous  powers  and  the  credulity  of  the  witnesses 

It  stands  now  in  the  category  of  obsolete  miracles; 
but  It  IS  still  a  wonder  that  needs  not  the  help  of  a 
superstitious  faith  to  secure  admiration. 

Professor  Lepsius  measured  it  in  February,  1845  and 
m  his  Denkmaier,  (Monuments,)  published  in  1850  we 
have  a  splended  engraving  of  the  statue.  From  these 
sources-" the  Denkmaier"  and  his  "Discoveries  in 
^gypt"— our  description  is  drawn. 

The  statue  is  credited  by  the  mmn,  to  Amunophis 
ni,  whom  Gliddon,  following  Bireh,  places  in  the 
eighteenth  Theban  dynasty,  1692  B.C.;  but  Lepsius  ha. 
since  transferred  him  to  the  seventeenth,  an  earlier 
dynasty,  and  dated  his  reign  in  1530  B.C.,  or  one  hun- 
dred  and  sixty-two  years  later,-an  instance  of  the 
uncertainties  of  Egyptian  chronology,  but  which  in  no 


f- 


92 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


wise  aflfects  the  points  with  which  we  are  now  con- 
cerned. 

It  is  in  the  sitting  posture,  and  measures  from  head 
to  foot,  without  the  tall  head-dress  it  once  wore,  forty- 
live  and  a  half  feet  in  perpendicular  height.  For  its 
entire  height  above  the  level  of  the  temple  the  base 
must  be  added, — thirteen  feet  seven  inches,  of  which 
about  three  feet  is  hidden  by  a  surrounding  step. 
Thus  the  statue  originally  stood,  or  sat,  nearly  sixty 
feet  (perhaps  seventy  with  the  head-dress)  above  the 
plain. 

The  measurements  which  specially  interest  us  are 
those  which  are  obtained  by  estimating  the  proportions 
observed  in  symmetrical  statuary,  and  by  calculations 
made  upon  the  scale  of  the  portrait  given  in  the  Denk- 
maler,  the  results  of  both  methods  agreeing  exactly. 

The  height  from  the  sole  of  the  foot  to  the  top  of  the 
knee  is  twenty  feet.  The  breadth  of  the  base  or  block 
on  which  the  throne  and  the  feet  of  the  figure  sit  is 
twenty,  and  the  length  thirty-six  feet,  nearly  covered 
by  the  sitting  statue. 

Dr.  Kane,  observing  from  below  a  tablet  or  lapstone 
which  had  never  been  specially  described,  suspected  that 
its  under-surface  might  have  hieroglyphic  inscriptions 
of  value,  and  determined  upon  an  inspection.  This 
could  be  accomplished  only  by  ascending  from  the  base 
between  the  legs  to  the  point  to  be  examined;  and  that 
must  be  done  by  climbing, — a  feat  as  yet  unattempted, 
and,  therefore,  just  the   thing  for  him  to  undertake. 


ASCENSION — BISK. 


93 


But  as  the  leg  at  the  ^^J^r^^t  four  and  a  half  f.  . 
m  diameter  and  thirtepn  ir,     •         .  ^^^* 

^  one  grasp,  the       e^/a  LeTutr'^  "'■""  "' 
was  clear.,  impracticable     tL:.  ITt       ""'  "' 

rtf '^  wa,  up  to  the  wX  wir  :r: 

nis  back  or  neck  (n^  f^o  ,,      •       •  -  "^^^^"8 

"ecK  (as  the  varying  interspace  reauirpr^^ 

---thatti:::--^.---- 

see„>ed  so,  fo  he  failed  in  several  attelr   B  t ^ 
P-g  himself  to  his  pantaloons,  whichTre  no  enll 
brance  :n  climbing,  he  was  at  last  successful 

It  was  slow  and  weary  work :  but  he  made  sood  1  • 
accent  to  the  point  he  aimed  at  ^        """ 

He  had  counted  upon  examining  the  lower  surface  of 

to   he  pla.n  by  taking  advantage  of  the  .'r  JularTrl 
jections  at  the  back  of  the  fiiru-e      ,       ,  ^ 

"P.  the  least  relaxation  of  his  brace  for  that  pu^ 


2 


-^ 
^ 


O 

23 


? 


*! 


94 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


4! 


% 


m   i«'' 


would  let  him  down  with  a  run,  and  as  certainly  add 
another  relic  to  the  ruins  of  Thebes. 

We  must  leave  him  here  till  the  measures  necessary 
fcr  his  relief,  and  an  inquiry  which  is  as  necessary  to 
extricate  us  from  a  difficulty  of  our  own,  are  effected. 

The  figure  of  the  vocal  Memnon,  as  it  is  given  in  the 
books  commonly  accessible, — such  as  Chambers's  Infor- 
mation for  the  People,  Murray's  Encyclopaedia  of  Geo- 
graphy, and  Frost's  Ancient  History, — show  no  sign  of 
this  lapstonc  or  tablet,  or,  indeed,  any  other  impediment 
to  the  continuous  ascent  of  a  climber  who  aims  at 
reaching  the  lap  of  the  sitting  figure,  when  he  has 
reached  the  position  in  which  Dr.  Kane  touched  the 
butt  and  boundary  of  his  upward  tending;  and  even 
the  large  and  otherwise  accurate  drawing  of  Rosellini 
gives  no  hint  of  it.  In  his  Memnon,  as  in  the  popular 
sketches,  the  hands  lie  spread  upon  the  thighs,  and  the 
apron  of  the  figure  falls  at  least  three  feet  short  of  cover- 
ing the  knees.  So,  the  difficulty  of  finding  the  difficulty 
turned  out  to  be  almost  equal  to  the  alleged  difficulty  of 
surmounting  it. 

But  the  Denkmaler  delivered  us  from  the  dilemma. 
There,  as  plain  as  any  other  feature  of  the  statue,  is 
the  obstructing  block, — ^neither  an  apron  nor  a  lapstone 
exactly,  but  a  tablet  ten  inches  thick,  jutting  out  flush 
with  the  knee-caps,  but  fixed  between  the  knees,  not 
lying  on  them.  The  end  of  this  block  is  obviously 
quite  beyond  the  reach  of  a  man  lying  extended  mid- 
way between  the  gigantic   knees,  and  too  thick  to  be 


ESCAPE. 


90 


clutched  availably,  if  iT^^^^^ii^i^  the  reach,  and  the 
hmber  could  raise  the  courage,  and  run   th     risk  of 

The  suspense  of  this  explanation  is  a  shorter  one,  and 
proba  ly  „,uch  less  straining,   than    that   which  our 
adventurer  had  to  endu,.;  for  he  hod  to  wait  till  a  boat, 
man  mounted  his  hor«,,  galloped  away  over  the  sands  and 
brough  the  Arab  guide,  who  knew  the  backway  ascent 
of  the  statue.    But  happily  the  messenger  brought     iTef 
ae  Arab  chmbed  to  the  lap  of  the  figu.,  and  pi  ,nting 
Wif  firmly  for  a  strong,  steady  pull,  th..w  the  end 
^  hs  sash  over  the  projecting  stone  and  swung  it  in 
.1    the  doctor  grasped  it,  when,  swinging  himself  out 
boldly,  ,n  the  ta.th  that  a  stout  fellow  could  haul  in  a 

descended  by  the  customary  pathway  to  the  plain         ^ 
Quite  unexpectedly,  he  had  abundance  of  leisure  to 
transcnbe  the  inscriptions  he  was  in  search  of,-if  Z^ 
-ere  any;  but,  for  reasons  which  we  make  b;id  to  say 
were  probably  sufficient  ones,  he  never  reported  Zy 
discovenos  or  p^spects  of  making  any,  likely  to  teZ 
futu.  explore.,  to  a  :.hea,.al  of  his  enten>rir        ' 
Th.  v,sit  to  Egypt,  and  its  engagements,  like  those  of 

he  d,,ease  distmctive  of  the  climate.    This  was  his 

hat"  "r"" "  ^^"^  ^''"^  *"-  "'^^  ^l  as  t: 

hall  see  m  the  sequel.     The  anemometers,  hygrometer 
barometers,  and  thermometers  of  the  scie  tifi'f  t^et; 


06 


ELIS'JA   KENT   KANE. 


ItiL 


arft  no  better  indicators  and  registers  of  climatology 
than  the  varied  sensitiveness  of  the  constitution  he 
carried  T^ith  him  in  all  his  journeyings. 

Scarcely  recovered  from  the  plague,  or  well  enorgh  to 
travel,  he  set  out  for  Greece  in  company  with  a  lieutenant 
of  the  British  army.  From  a  mere  scrap  of  a  letter,  it 
appears  that  he  was  at  Athens  on  the  10th  of  June,  1845. 
He  made  the  tour  of  Greece  on  foot,  which,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  weakness,  was  a  slow  one ;  but  the  exercise 
was  restorative,  and  he  managed  to  visit  all  its  scenes 
of  ancient  story  and  classic  interest. 

He  left  nothing  of  this  trip  behind  him  but  a  brief 
itinerary,  and  some  memorials  gathered  by  the  way  to 
present  to  his  friends  at  home. 

He  went  from  Athens  to  Eleusis,  thence  to  Platoea, 
to  Leuctra,  to  Thebes,  to  Cheronaea,  to  liivadia; 
then  to  the  top  of  Mount  Helicon,  and  there  cut  a 
walking-stick  from  tae  brink  of  Hippocrene,  which  he 
brought  home  for  his  father,  with  the  motto  engraved 
upon  the  ring,  Fonte  prolui  Gahallino.  Thence  he  passed 
on  to  Thermopylu)  and  the  Zietoun  Gulf,  returned  by 
Parnassus  to  the  Delphic  oracle  at  Castri,  bathed  in  the 
fountain  in  which  the  Pythoness  was  wont  of  yore  to 
plunge  before  she  mounted  the  tripod  to  utter  her  tb rice- 
sacred  oracles,  and  descended  to  the  plain  by  Galixidi 
and  Salonr^  crossed  the  Gulf  of  L(!panto  in  an  open  boat, 
visited  Megaspelion  r.nd  Vostitzn,  traversed  the  Morea 
thoroughly,  and  then  took  a  steamer  from  Patras  for 
Trieste  by  the  Adriatic  Sea. 


PAEiS — A    LETTER. 


97 


Here  Germany  and  Switzerland  lay  before  him.     He 
travelled  through  both,  and  in  the  latter  so  carefully 
exanuned  the  glacier,  of  the  Alps  that  his  ice-theories 
of  the  Arcfc  regions  are  enriched  with  frequent  and 
cntieal  allusions  to  them. 
On  the  T3th  of  July  he  was  in  Paris 
A  letter  of  the  doctor's  from  which  we  obtain  this 
date  d,,covers   that  at  this   time  he  was  intent  upon 
obtanung  a  hcense  from  the  Spanisl,  authorities  to  prac- 
tise his  profession  at  Manila,  i„  the  island  of  Luzon 

He  had  made  three  thousand  dollars  by  his  half- 
years  practice  in  China,  and  promised  himself  an  outfit 
'"  ""t,™""  '     '"'' '"""  "^  P™<=«««  ^'"""g  tho  Mlilin- 

Cr^ittr  "■°"''' ^^- ''^"' -- -' -  ^ 

Six  months  had  been  spent  in  travel  since  he  left 
Macao;  ,  „d  .t  is  only  now  that  he  confesses  how  des- 
ponitely  i„  he  had  been  there,  and  how  much  he  iZ 
endured  in  the  interval. 

The  letter  is  an  elaborate  defence  of  his  destiny  against 
«».o  citations  of  his  family  lor  his  return  and  ret- 
ment  at  home.  Its  topics  and  tone  are  too  deeply 
«    or  publication;  but  we  may  be  allowed  to  lay 

>t   that   any   page   in   it   would  amply  justify   the 
warmest  admiration  for  his  heroism,  his  L'li ig,  and 

nave  v.  on  for  his  memory. 

trom  Uina,  and  Ins  yearnings  ibr  homo  and  hi.  mother's 


erf 


O 

33 


^ 


if 


98 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


I 


nursing  are  poured  out,  pulsating  with  the  heart-throbs 
of  a  hungering  affection;  yet  he  could  not  consent  to 
surrender  the  plan  of  life  to  which  he  had  so  resolutely 
devoted  himself. 

This  letter,  moreover,  discovers  that  he  knew  himself 
well,  and  that  his  life  was  not  led  by  an  irreflective 
impulse,  but  by  a  purpose  as  well  considered  as  it  was 
boldly  resolved;  and  it  is,  moreover,  a  piece  of  character- 
ization that  might  safely  challenge  a  parallel  among  the 
gems  of  aesthetic  literature. 

He  failed  in  his  application  to  the  Spanish  authorities, 
or  he  yielded  the  purpose  to  other  considerations ;  for  he 
soon  after  passed  over  into  Italy,  and  returned  through 
France  to  England,  and  from  England  came  home. 

It  will  be  seen  how  meagre  our  materials  are  for  the 
history  of  his  European  travels.  A  scrap  of  this  story 
appears  in  Mr.  Snow's  journal  of  the  Prince  Albert's 
expedition  to  the  Arctic  regions  in  1850  in  search  of  Sir 
John  Franklin.  The  writer  met  Dr.  Kane  in  Lancaster 
Sound,  and  gives  him  a  place  in  his  book.  He  says  of 
him : — 

"Dr.  Kane,  the  surgeon,  naturalist,  journalist,  etc. 
of  the  (first  Grinnel)  expedition,  was  of  an  exceedingly 
slim  and  apparently  fragile  form,  with  features,  to  all 
appearance,  far  better  suited  to  a  genial  clime  and  to  the 
comforts  of  a  pleasant  home  than  to  the  roughness  and 
hardships  of  an  Arctic  voyage.  I  found  that  he  had 
been  i»  i;^any  parts  of  the  world  that  I  myself  had 
visited,  and.  in  many  others  that  I  could  only  long  to 


ALL    THE    WORLD    OVEB.  99 

jit      There  in  thatl^J^H^pHable,  dreary  region 
of  everlastog  .ceand  snow,  did  we  again,  in  faney  JZ 
over  nnles  and  n.i,es  of  ,.nds  far  distant,  and  I;^ 
joyous.    Wsmiling  Italy,  and  its  soften  ng  Hfe    .t"! 
fewa^erland,  and  its  hardy  sons;  the  Alps   tie'  Zel 
-nes,  France,  Germany,  Ma,  Southern  I  ri        C 
came   Spa:n,   Portugal,  and  my  own  England-   le.t 
reared  Egypt,  Syria,  and  the  Desert.     WitT,,!  thel 

traveller.     ...cb  ,n  aneedote  and  full  of  pleadn.  tnlt 
nne  Hew  rapidly  as  I  conversed  with  hi.^n  X'^ 
of  the  hospitality  offered  me." 

The   range  of  this  single   trip  was,  however  some 

thing  larger,  as  our  readers  will  remen.ber   tt,      T 

catalogue  of  Mr.  Snow  records :  Ma^L  ^1^ 

S7'  f -"    ^'^   '^'-<^^,   Borneo,   slma  ^  Sa"' 

It'trrbr  '1  ■'''"'''  "*  ^^  ^-erted'into     : 

hes    j.membra„ces  he  had  been  in  Mexico  and  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  had  just  then  -  -rived  „  t  , 
Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland,  an^  all^ te":  oL^i" 
.n  Lancaster  Sound,  in  latitude  north  on  the  We     „ 
hemisphere  as   high   as  civilized   man  had   tili      ! 

-0^,  and  was  at  the  time  but  thirty  yell"" 
At  home  through  the  winter  of  1845-40,  he  m.^st'be 
b™y,  whether  his  ultimate  purposes-conld  bo  f.:  tlr! 
by  the  occupation  at  hand  or  nof      T+  v-'     u-*^ 

wm.  his  usual  earnestness,:::  ,;:'SS-S: 
less  energies,  he,  for  the  time  th.  ^-.^^T       ^ 


i; 


^ 


O 

23 


100 


ELISHA  KENT   KANE, 


upon  his  travelling  propensit''^s,  turned  his  ambition 
upon  professional  eminence,  with  a  view  to  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  teaching  as  a  lecturer  in  Philadelphia. 
He  took  a  house  in  Walnut  Street,  and  furnished  an 
office  in  it  with  taste  and  elaborate  care.  With  his 
medical  brethren  he  kept  a  full  round  of  engagements, — 
chemical,  anatomical,  quiz,  and  soiree. 

It  must  be  recollected  that,  although  he  had  now 
been  for  nearly  four  years  a  titular  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  United  States  navy,  he  had  not  been  commissioned 
and  put  upon  the  pay-roll. 

His  repugnance  to  the  service  was  decided :  it  would 
not  be  too  much  to  sav  he  detested  it.  From  his  first 
cruise  to  the  end  of  his  voyaging  he  was  always  sea-sick 
in  rough  weather.  But  this  was  as  nothing  to  the  routine 
life  of  a  subordinate  to  which  it  subjected  him.  The 
distinctions  of  rank  which  our  naval  service  tolerates, 
without  justifying,  outraged  his  frank  democracy  of  feel- 
ing. All  manifestations  of  masterdom  were  abhorrent  to 
him.  He  had  no  feeling  that  forbade  the  taking  of 
human  life ;  but  he  could  not  endure  the  bullying  spirit 
which  violates  its  common  rights.  An  insult,  or  a  blow 
that  carries  one  with  it,  he  regarded  as  worse  than 
death  if  it  nnist  be  passively  endured.  And  it  was  just 
as  hard  for  him  to  witness  as  to  receive  such  indignities. 
There  was  nothing  in  him  that  fitted  him  for  naval 
service  except  his  capacity  for  the  performance  of  its 
duties :  its  regime  was  his  abhorrence.  Yet  now,  wlion 
his  family  urged  him  to  resign  his  official  relations  to  it, 


WAITING    ORDERS. 


101 


honcable  fit!   1'  '"T'^'  *■"''  ''  ^-■''  -'  "^e 
impending.  '"^^  *'"  ""^^  -*  ^at  chance 

Mr.   Bancroft,  Secretary  of  th^    K 
station  him  at  the  Nn,     v    7  ''"'^'  "'**'"^«d   to 

delphia ;  but  „*  n!    ""  r       "  ''^^'"  ^^^'"^  "^  ^^ila- 

-ic.thi.p::;;  ,r^^^^ 

-  ™»'^.  -^e  put  him.elf  upo^  t  eriTrD  '''  -- 

"waiting  orders,"_cur'lv  Jm  ,  ^^'"'""'"'^ 

decision  with-^Vhatl  '  f  """f    ™""  '°'    *« 

-.id.e,out.inl::;rLtr--^Pa.^o 

liie  order  came  three  weeks  bf^fnro  n 
y  "war  with  Mexico  al  ead'   ILST:  ''"''"'' 
that  power,"  but  it  was  to  the  coa  tof  If         "'  °' 
^n.ate  United  State,  under  CoJIdJe  ^T'ZT 
was   despatched      Th;.  ^'  *"^*  ^e 

Htteri,Lter:^f:%::;;;v;L"r^'^"^^^'' 

the  expected  war  that  he  1   T   ,  """^  ^"'""'^^  "'" 

under„arching.or    :    It  !"  ''  '"'  '"'"''"^ 

his  «..bmis«ion  or  bv  a\      .  V'"      °  ^"""'^  '^  ^'''"^t 
tination,aUh'uht:::^/,'^'"^'*°-^^'>hisde. 

%ondhi.own:on.n::;:  rxr^r-'''r 

rr^  -  in  the  ™al,e»t  action,  a       Irl  '  1^   '^ 
lile,  he  stood  unfliachin-lv  tlo  1  ,      'nt^ests  of  his 

he  vohnifu-ilv  r,  .  '^'  "^  "'«  <^'«  which 

fete.     TZ      L^'T:  "'"■''  """^  "-"'  --  his 

urterheharpZe   ;7  "^  •"""""'^''  "^  '^^°""- 

"  '■    '   '^  '*  "'™"g''  the  forms  of  enactment. 


m 


a 

22 


>f 


102 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


!• 


I    Wmi 


The  vessel  sailed  about  the  25th  of  May,  1846.  lu 
the  middle  of  June  it  reached  Cape  Verd. 

When  the  doctor  was  at  Brazil  in  1843,  he  had  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  famous  Da  Souza,  a  Portuguese 
merchant  largely  engaged  in  the  slave-trade,  and,  in 
return  for  some  professional  services,  received  from  him 
introductory  letters  to  his  commercial  representatives  on 
the  Coast.  Presenting  these  letters  when  ashore  with  a 
party  of  officers,  he  was  entertained  with  very  liberal 
hospitality,  and  admitted  to  the  freest  confidence  that 
his  position  would  allov/  him  to  accept. 

He  availed  himself  of  the  facilities  which  he  could 
command  to  visit  the  slave-factories  from  Cape  Mount 
to  the  river  Bonny  in  the  Gulf  of  Guinea. 

While  the  frigate  lay  in  harbor,  a  caravan  was  ready 
to  set  out  from  one  of  those  factories  on  the  coast  for 
Dahomey,  the  great  slave-mart  of  the  interior,  carrying 
a  magnificent  tribute  of  jewelry  ai>d  ornate  furniture 
from  the  factory  to  his  sable  majesty.  Dr.  Kane  pro- 
cured the  commodore's  permission  to  join  the  party,  and, 
it  seems,  became  quite  a  favorite  with  the  sovereign 
while  the  embassy  remained  at  court.  A  semi-diadem  of 
feathers,  and  a  number  of  baskets  decorated  with  the 
royal  crimson  dye,  which  are  still  preserved  at  Fern 
Rock,  were  among  the  testimonials  of  regard  which  he 
brought  home  with  him. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  courtesies  received  and  the 
impressions  they  were  intended  to  make,  the  recollec- 


A    PATTERN    OF    A    KING.  IQS 

The  monarch  of  Dahome-,  in  his  renort 
inch  a  kino-     „  ■„  report,  was  every 

"         king,_as  magnificent  a.  the  best  of  them  in  hi 
retmue,  and  somewhat  more  onul^nf  i       • 
lute  in  authority      A  nX     T  '''^''  "'"^  ^''^°- 

-thy  succes  ^r  of  tra      Lt       '"":  ""  '^'  ^"^  ^ 
^  "I  01  tuat  Illustrious  predecessor  of  hU 

tT::r^'  ^'^".  — ^  -  ^-.h*  tri ; 

rati      f  ^""  '  *'«'"'"'^'"'  S-^-^-J  -"  over  with 

;t:srnV:rhi:fr-'''^"-rei 
o^e  Which  is  cirttr^^"^^^'^'''^^^ 

"  Ho,  lam-a-rama  bo  now, 
Sam-a-rambo  jug ! 

Hurrah  for  tbe  son  of  the  sun  I 
Hurrah  for  tbe  brother  of  the  moon  1 

Buffalo  of  buffaloes,  and  bull  of  bulls  t 
He  sits  on  a  throne  of  his  enemies'  skulls  • 
Aod,  If  he  wants  more  to  play  at  football, ' 
Oursareathi3  8ervice,-all,all,all." 

His  majesty,  magnificent  and  munificent  in  all  thin^ 
oya    amused  himself  occasionally,  or  oftene:,  w  tlut 

-her  n*:^^^^^^^^^^^ 

".■easons  of  sta^:-    hI "      T  '"'''"  ""  '='"'«<' 

b^hle,       rr\  ™'""fi«™e  was  in  feathers  and 

f  worth    r "' '''  "•™'"'  O'^p--'! '» -' 

lis  worthy  guests  as  had  the  taste  to  accept  them 
The  manner  of  selecting  hi,,   ho. 


>st  of  sultan 


as  was 


H 


104 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


■  '1 


I  t  ■,  1^ 


right  royal :  applying  the  Norman  doctrine  of  tenure  in 
the  lands  of  England  to  the  ladies,  the  entire  sex  of  his 
realm,  by  a  species  of  domesday  practice,  the  women 
)f  Dahomey  are  annually  mustered,  the  king  seizes  n 
few  hundreds  of  them  in  right  of  eminent  domain,  and 
grants  the  refuse  to  his  grandees  in  fee  of  knight- 
service,  which  they  are  bound  to  receive  with  the  most 
humble  gratitude. 

Nor  is  his  majesty  a  whit  behind  the  most  renowned 
of  his  craft  as  a  killer.  The  large  court-yard  near  the 
palatial  shanty  was  literally  covered  with  skulls,  the 
memorials  of  his  sabre-skill ;  and  it  was  only  at  the 
pressing  solicitation  of  his  christian  visitors  that  he 
adjourned  an  exhibition  of  his  prowess  in  that  line. 

Dr.  Kane  returned  from  Dahomey  with  the  impression 
that,  whatever  may  have  been  the  case  in  the  early 
periods  of  the  trade,  the  slaves  that  are  driven  to  the 
coast  for  shipment  may  very  well  congratulate  them- 
selves upon  the  commutation  of  their  fate,  even  with  the 
"middle  passage"  before  them.  Indeed,  he  believed 
that  the  predatory  wars  of  Inner  Africa,  though  now 
stimulated  in  some  degree  by  the  cupidity  of  the  chief- 
tains, had  their  origin  in  a  dark  fanaticism  that  sought 
for  prisoners  as  victims  for  sacrifice.  He  was  convinced 
that  very  many  of  those  whom  he  saw  caged  in  Dahomey 
were  too  young  and  too  infirm  to  be  merchantable. 

It  is  well  known  that  they  have  two  annual  festivals 
of  slaughter,  in  which  the  king  and  chief  men  propitiate 
the    manes  of  their   ancestors    by  a  crowd  of  victims. 


COAST-FEVER. 


lOo 

The  walls  of  the  p^h^^^TZ^i^r^phs  are  crnamented 
>nth  skulls;  the  king  has  his  sleeping-apartment  paved 
with  them;  and  war  and  glory,  after  the  manner  of 
kingship,  are  grander  and  even  more  mereiless  with 
him,  as  they  are  elsewhere,  than  the  passion  for  for- 
eign traffic. 

Dr.  Kane  had  not  been  long  on  the  coast  when  the 
pestilence  of  that  region  made  its  appearance  on  board 
the  frigate.     "I  am  sitting,"  he  writes,  "in  my  little 
cockpit  state-room.    Fumes  of  mouldy  boots  and  molasses 
ar^  exuding  from  the  dirty  deck  below  me;  and  heaven's 
breath  comes  to  me  through  a  long  canvas  tube.      This 
grateful  conductor  of  vitality  is  called  a  wind-sail      Its 
funnel  has  been  pointed  opposite  my  kennel,  and  I  am 
thankfully  enjoying  the  wet-towel  smell  of  the  scanty 
breeze.      The  jaundiced-looking  spermaceti    candle   on 
my  table  has  been  gasping  ,so  at  the  scanty  oxygen  that 
I  have  even  put  it  out  of  its  misery,  and  I  am  writing 
by  the  beams  of  tlie  hatchway-lantern.     The  weather 
above  ,s  rainy,  and  it  is  night  there  as  well  as  here 
The  thermometer  is  at  eighty-five  degrees.     Our  voyage 
from  the  Cape  de  Verds,-oh!   that  sleepy  period  o°f 
s  agnat.on,_it  was  a  nearly  continuous  calm.    Six  cases 
of  the  dreaded  fever  broke  out  before  we  had  been  a 
week  from  port;  and  I  am  now  in  the  midst  of  the  true 
responsibilities  of  a  navy  surgeon.     We  are  on  our  way      ' 
«outli.     A  London   homeward-bound   may  deliver   this 
note :  if  so,  let  it  assure  you  of  my  continued  health  and 
Jeferniination   to   make   the   best  of  my  bad   bargain 


1i 


I 


<15 


■4. 

O 

23 


p\ 


.;:  I'i!  I! 
t  111 


liiiijji. 

I 


Hlilli 


*  1  i 

illlii 
MiiiHi:! 


106 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


Tell  mother  not  to  be  uneasy.  The  fever  is  not  con- 
tagious, and  one  never  loses  by  attention  to  duty." 

In  less  than  three  months  after  this  he  was  himself 
prostrated  by  the  "  coast-fever."  His  attack  was  exceed- 
ingly severe.  For  three  weeks  the  active  virulence  of 
the  disease  held  on  without  check :  in  three  weeks  more 
he  was  only  strong  enough  to  allow  of  his  being  lowered 
over  the  ship's  side  and  sent  home  in  one  of  the  Liberia 
transport- vessels. 

A  letter  of  Dr.  Dillard,  the  fleet-surgeon,  written  at 
the  port  of  St.  Jago,  one  of  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands, 
to  one  of  the  doctor's  friends,  serves  a  purpose  which 
warrants  its  insertion  here. 


•■} 


(copy.) 

"  U.  S.  Feioatk  U.aTED  States, 
PoKTO  Peaya,  March  9,  1847. 

"Dr.  Kane  returns  home  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  disease  was 
the  coast-fever,  and  the  attack  exceedingly  severe.  It  manifested 
itself  on  the  1st  of  February,  and  continued  with  unmitigated  violence 
for  ten  days.  The  abatement  of  the  fever  was  not  then  complete,  but 
greatly  diminished,  and  finally  left  the  patient  on  the  twenty-first  day  worn 
out  and  exhausted.  His  recovery  and  convalescence  have  been  slow, 
his  present  prostration  and  debility  great.  He  gains  strength  tardily; 
and  I  fear  that  if  he  be  kept  in  this  baleful  climate  he  may  relapse  and 
die,  or  suSer  in  his  constitution.  Under  this  view  I  have  thought  it 
best  to  send  him  home.  He  goes  in  the  '  Chesapeake  and  Liberian 
Packet/ — a  new  and  comfortable  ship, — and  will  have  every  possible 
attention  extenced  to  him.  May  he  soon  reach  his  country  and  rejoin 
his  family  in  renewed  health !     God  bless  him  ! 

"I  part  with  him  with  regret,  and  shall  miss  him  much.     I  lose 
not  only  a  useful  and  necessary  assistant,  but  a  valued  and  esteemed 


A    CHRONIC    COMPLAINT. 


107 


young  friend.     Our  asaociation,  both  official  and  social,  has  been  of  the 
pleasantest  kind.  Very  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

"T.  DiLLARD." 

To  this  attack  of  the  coast-fever  he  was  accustomed 
ever  afterward  to  ascribe  the  most  serious  breach  that 
disease  had  made  in  his  constitution.  He  carried  this 
feehng  with  him  to  the  last  as  a  complaint  against  the 
administration  which  condemned  him  to  a  field  of  ser 
vice  111  suited  to  his  constitution  and  his  aspirations 


ii   *-^ 

W    ''**• 

1  (^ 

II  UJ 

"  ac. 

*^' 

OiS 

a 

23 

1 

f 

CHAPTER  VII. 


A  SUMMER  OF  SUFFERING — OPPORTUNITY  LOST — THE  LAST  CHANCE 
SEKED — DESPATCHED  TO  MEXICO — SHIPWRECK  IN  THE  GULF — THE 
SPY-COMPANY — AFFAIR  AT  NOPALUCA — RESCUE  OF  HIS  PRISONERS — 
HARD  FIGHTING  AND  ROUGH  SURGERY — WOUNDED — TYPHUS  FEVER 
— NEWSPAPER  HISTORY — SURFEIT  OF  PATRIOTISM — IRKSOMENESS  OF 
THE  LIVERY — CHARGES  AGAINST  DOMINGUES — THE  HORSE-CLAIM — 
— HOW  IT  WAS  PROVED,  AND  WHAT  IT  PROVED — GRATITUDE  OF  HIS 
PRISONERS. 


^ST-HIS 


Dr.  Kane  reached  Philadelphia  on  the  6th  of  April, 
1847,  a  broken-down  man.  He  had  sailed  for  the  pesti- 
lential coast  of  Africa  ten  months  before,  with  a  reluc- 
tance that  nothing  but  a  despotic  self-government  could 
have  subdued.  He  returned  in  the  condition  and  with 
the  feeling  of  a  sacrificed  man.  Knowing  that  he  held 
his  life  by  the  most  precarious  tenii,r  .-^nd  certain  that 
it  must  be  a  short  one,  he  yearne«i.  to  tiowd  it  nith 
activities  which  might  compensate  by  their  worthi^iess 
for  its  brevity.  His  opportunity  seemed  now  to  have 
escaped  him ;  and  the  weary  weeks  of  the  ensuing  con- 
finement in  his  sick-room  were  among  the  worst  for  him 

(>r  his  hard  lifetime.     The  arm  of  the  service  to  which 
108 


A    SUMMER    OP    SUFPEBiNe.  IQg 

Je  wa,  attached,  and  ^i:^^^^^ oiious  to  him  except 

Per.™ea..,,harr;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

on  the  Pacific  and  in  the  Tnlf    n  .1  ■^''*^' 

in  tne  Orulf,  all  the  strono-holds  nf  fi,« 
enemy  against  which  the  navv  conhl  >.  °''^^'"^^^^^ 
hr^        1       ■■  iicivj  coultl  be  oncao-ofl  l)i.l 

been  reduced,  and  there  was  nothin.  that  he  T      ,     . 
for  him  to  expect  in  the  routine  of  II!,  ?        ' 

offered  chinces  which  it 

as  his  strength  permitted  him  to  L  J '  nd  t  I T 
M»  physician  and  his  ti™i„  ,ad  :  t^i  tf  e^^ 
licence,  he  hurried  off  to  Washington  for  th 

the  armv      TT    1    f  '     ^""''^'^^  ^"  ^^^  ii«e  of 

me  army.     He  had  secured  letters  from  +1.     n 

nesident,  enforcing  his  application,  and  he  would  h 

One  more  lono-  term  r^f  ■..   ^  ( • 
h=«  -ther  the   001™  ^  CtrheT  o""'?  »""^ 
on.,  conditions  in  which  she  i^  d  ei^"!;;  r-''"^ 
-W.  and,  under  her  care,  h,  the  eS^:,::;: 
of  October  he  was  able  to  meet  his  friends  again 
One  Saturday  mght,  at  the  close  of  the  month    1 

attended  the  Wistar  party  .t  I,!^  f  ,i         ,  ' 

paity  at  his  fathers  house,  and 


<k 


I 


O 

23 


110 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


passed  the  evening  as  if  its  enjoyments  sufficed  him. 
The  company  congratulated  him  npon  the  prospect  of 
a  speedy  and  complete  recovery  from  his  long  illness: 
many  good  \rishes  and  much  good  advice  were  bestowed 
upon  the  valetudinary,  and  the  festivities  went  on  as  if 
his  prudence  could  be  relied  upon  and  all  solicitude 
might  now  be  discarded,  for  he  looked  just  as  if  he  were 
clearly  pledged  to  a  conformable  behavior.  But  he  was 
missed  at  the  close  of  the  entertainment,  which  was 
readily  accounted  for  by  the  supposition  that  he  had 
crossed  the  street  to  escape  the  fatigue  of  late  hours,  and 
would  spend  the  night  in  the  quiet  whioh  he  needed. 

He  did  not  return  till  the  middle  of  the  week.  He 
had  taken  the  night  train  for  Washington  City,  effected 
his  object  there,  and  announced  to  his  friends  that  he 
was  under  orders  for  the  seat  of  war. 

He  had  pressed  his  application  for  worthier  service 
upon  the  President,  and  enforced  it  by  the  complaint 
which  he  had  to  make  of  his  African  appointment. 
Mr.  Polk  afterward  said  that  he  had  this  in  his  mind 
xvhen  he  gave  him  the  opportunity  of  seeing  service  in 
Mexico. 

The  city  of  Mexico  had  surrendered  a  month  before 
to  General  Scott;  but  Colonel  Childs  was  at  the  time 
besieged  in  Puebla,  and  the  communication  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief with  the  Gulf  coast  was  otherwise  inur- 
rupted  by  the  presence  and  hostilities  of  the  enemy. 

An  important  despatch  which  had  been  forwarded  in 
triplicate  by  the  Secretary  of  War  had  each  time  failed, 


DESPATCHED    TO    MEXICO. 


Ill 


*  These  orders  ran  thus :— 

«StE-_T(„l,    .1  N«vomber  5,  1847.  7 

»t«toios,  a,  may  co»e  under  ,„„   T'  7'  "*  '"'«'""'  "««  ""I 

.0"  -^0  a  f„„  and  ^...r^^^^Z^:^  "-,."  ''  "^  «■»''  '^a. 

"Rospectfnilv,  °'''"™^-"f»"-"»'o.hi»B„«„. 

^        •"  -I-  Harris^ 

"Assistnnf  9„         '  JY  ""^  ^'"'''"'  "-^  ^^^^''^^'^^  ««^  ^«r7er,.  " 
Assistant  Surgeon  E.  K.  Kane,  U.S.N."  '^"'^ery. 

"  To  the  Officer,  of  Z\77Tr"''  ^""^'  ^°^^™''-  «'  1847. 

b.  a  laudable  .eal  for  professional  i.pro;e.t":!       /"^"-'"P^"^^ 
pate  in  active  field-service  has  ohf„;   ^  '         '  '^'''''^  *«  P"^*^"^- 

^^«  N-,  to  proceed  to  tl,:  ^:^Zrt  "'"'  '''  ''-''-^  '^ 
to  the  connnanding  general  for  duty  """  ""^  ^"'^  ^^^^^ 

"  i^'-  ^""'^  '-^  ^^''t'-ucted  to  visit  the  general  and  fl  n  .      • 
-^  bus  route;  and  I  feel  assured  that  thf  '^P'^''^'  *°- 

-  the  „r.y  will  afford  hi.    1     h^        iv"      '  ^^  '"  "'^''^"'  «^"^ 
objects  he  n.ay  have  in  vie^  ""  '"''^''^'^  '^  P-'-te  the 

"  I  beg  leave  to  conunend  hiu:  to  your  friendl.         • , 

"  I  bave  the  honor  to  ha  ^  consideration. 

bouoroe,.peetfull,,,our  obedient  servant, 


> 

<U3 


o 

23 


112 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


m 


With  these  official  and  numeroas  private  letters  from 
"Washington  friends,  he  set  out  on  the  6th  of  November 
for  Mexico.  On  his  way  he  procured  a  horse,  bred  by 
Colonel  Shirley,  of  Kentucky,  every  way  worthy  of  the 
adventurous  service  which  lay  before  him.  The  doctor 
was  a  brilliant  horseman,  and  no  knight-errant  could 
have  been  better  matched  with  a  charger.  He  bore  his 
master  bravely  through  a  hotly-contested  fight;  and  in  a 
very  curious  way,  by  a  posthumous  service,  he  has  been 
as  serviceable  to  that  master's  biographer  in  a  field  as 
stoutly  debated.  If  the  reader  knew  exactly  how  we 
have  been  beleaguered,  he  would  see  clearly  how  the 
"gallant  gray"  bears  his  friends  through  a  guerilla 
skirmish. 

The  horse  and  his  rider  reached  New  Orleans  on 
the  22d,  and  sailed  for  Vera  Cruz,  in  the  United 
States  steamer  Fashion,  on  the  23d.  Their  companions 
were  a  mixed  multitude, — ladies,  officers,  gentlemen, 
volunteer  soldiers,  followers  of  the  camp,  horses,  and  all 
the  lumber  of  military  equipage.  Colonel  Seymour,  of 
the  Georgia  regiment,  and  Major  Roth,  of  the  volunteers, 
then  holding  a  subordinate  rank,  were  among  the  pas- 
sengers. 

They  had  a  rough  time  of  it  in  the  Gulf, — encountered 
one  of  its  severest  northers,  and  were  for  some  days  in 
imminent  peril.  Their  bulwarks  were  stove,  the  hull 
strained  badly,  and  the  pumps  all  broken  or  choked. 
The  doctor  took  a  very  active  part  in  backing  the  deck- 
load  of  dragoon-horses  overboard,  and  was  in  the  act  of 


ARRIVAL    IN    MEXICO.  jjg 

the  submermon,  and  had  his  name  chan..d   ,'     ^ 
r^m,  on  the  spot,  from  Tom  to  Mc         '    '        ""* 
The  gale  continued:  the  .teamer  was  sinkin.-  scuttle 
holes  were  out  in  her  deck  and  ,11  I,      , 
under  Dr.  Kane'.  supe.ltion  1       '    ^  7"  ""''"'''''' 
camp-kettles.     The    to"    2  7  '''""■'^'^'^^  "'"^ 

when,  driving   before     t    t        vT'  '™"  '"'"^"'"^'' 
two  sots  of  reefstd         T,         "™  '"'"^^  ''^'-«" 

San  Juan      It  '         "'''^  "''"^  *'-  C-"«  of 

J"an.     It  was  a  miraculous  escane-   fnr  .i      i.   , 

no  other  access  to  nn.t        ,   ,  ^  '  ^'^"^  '""^ 

outside.  '     '  ""'  •^'"  ~"'^  ""'  have  survived 

LandiiiG:  at  Vom  Pru-,   n     rr 

o^<.-r;,,„r;:;cr,tm^Jrr^;'--°'- 

W  .oved  to  the  interior  a  few  CbXe^r^^-' 

;jS.enight,„rpartofthe„igL,ar^^^^^^^^ 

tlien,  with  a  party  of  officers  who  hnrl  l.„ 

from  accompanvino.  fUn'         ■  ^"  prevented 

The  rest  of  this  storv  is  «5n  fnll     c  .1 

to   require   ^  .1  ,  T  ""^  *'^^  ^^"^'^"^io  as 

^«-tjuire   a  close   slielter    fm-    ifc    c    ^ 

authentic  data  i„  our  po  li!:     W        ^  ""'"    '" 
''■''' we  ma,  get  safel/thri:;;;,  """''"  ""^'•'•■^■' 

Dr.  Gofirtrn  T^"*    n 

assistant  surgeon 


O 

2S 


States 


arniv  writ 


"^S  at  Philadelphia,  Decenih 


Suited 
«'>"1,1SJ8. 


114 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


1 


i  1 


Sl 


says,  "When  stationed  in  the  castle  of  Porote  in  the 
month  of  January,  1848,  I  was  visited  by  Dr.  Ehsha  K. 
Kane,  of  the  United  States  navy,  who  was  then  en 
route  for  the  city  of  Mexico,  being,  as  I  learned  from 
him,  the  bearer  of  despatches  from  our  Government  to 
the  commander-in-chief.  He  was  unable  to  proceed  on 
his  journey,  for  want  of  an  escort,  and  remained  with  me 
until  the  contra-guerillas  or  spy-companj^,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Domingues,  arrived  at  the  town  of  Perote  en 
route  for  the  capital.  The  doctor  had  with  him  at  the 
castle  of  Perote  a  full-blooded  gray  gelding,  the  finest 
animal  I  ever  saw  in  the  Republic  of  Mexico.  When 
the  doctor  left  the  castle  to  pursue  his  journey,  I  accom- 
panied him  on  the  Puebhx  Road  until  we  overtook  the 
rear-guard  of  the  spy-company,  which  had  started  some 
short  time  before  us." 

This,  as  appears  from  other  sources,  was  on  the  3d  of 
January.  Immediately  before  this  date,  a  scrap  of  a 
letter  written  by  Dr.  Kane  on  a  piece  of  cartridge-paper, 
(which,  however,  was  not  received  in  Philadelphia  until 
long  after  the  period  of  anxiety  for  his  fa'e  had  passed,) 
says,  "  I  have  determined  to  trust  myself  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  renegade  spy-company,  Colonel 
Domingues,  and  thus  reach  Mexico  (the  city)  in  time  for 
reputation  or  not  at  all." 

On  the  Gth,  at  a  place  near  Nopaluca,  and  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  Puebla,  the  escort — about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  mounted  lancers,  all  Mexican 
skinners,  bandits,  and  traitors — encountered  a  body  of 


AFFAIR    AT    NOPALUCA.  jj^ 

.•..•de-de-ca^p  Maximilian,  ZZ.Z'  ""l  "°"  ""^ 

-;^;a.wvi.,.;,;::;:;3:;--.e 

i.  •  -^'-'iityon,  Colonel  Gaom    wUh  + 

captains  and  thfrfv  ^i-n-i.^        ,  ^<tona,  with  two 

iu  nurtj-eight  rank  and  fAe  of  fhp  M.  • 
party,  were  taken  prisoners.  '*^'''"" 

In  the  first  notice  of  tlii«  nW       i  •  , 

"elphia,  published    n.Tetr'-""'^'  ^""'^ 
February,  1848   it  wn    V!  f  ""'>''^»'''n"  of  tbe  8th 

■''  ■"'*'''  't  was  stated  that  "  n,.   f 
"P  (to  Puebla)  with  *!,  -^""'^  '^"""^s 

-^wa.hi4o::i::i::,.x---p-^H. 

at  this  time  knew  nothin.  'ft  "''  ''^"'^^ 

The  earliest  news  i„  which   h iT  "**^- 

given  wa.  i„  the  "Penl.l.n      T       •'  ""^   '^""'''^"^ 
Puebia,  January  17        "'■^''""^  ^"V^rev,"  written  at 

-ri8:iirthu:.-'"'"'^''"^^^^«^'--'^^'- 

-2\:r:;:::r'';;."->'-^-»<Hhe,did 

of  the  advance    n  ei       '  it':  T''  "'  "''''  ^""^ 
"r(ournr-^T     1      '^^■^'"P'^^y'  ''••'Ving  killed  th^-e 

'•»  th  I  :t;:i7'"''i  '*"^'  ^---'^  '^'"' » -- 

..cceededCr  -"'•■■"'"'  "  '""  "'^««^"'  ">e  ...i.hs. 
"  "■^'^"•SPn-ners  General  Torrojon,  General 


rr 


a: 

O 

2S 


116 


ELISIIA   KliNT   KANE. 


mil 
111 


v^ 


Gaoria,  two  colonels,  three  majors,  and  thirty-eight 
privates. 

"  But  for  the  gallantry  and  magnanimous  exertions  of 
Dr.  Kane,  they  would  have  killed  General  Gaona,  the 
father  of  the  colonel  of  that  name,  and  several  other 
officers.  Dr.  Kane,  with  the  utmost  intrepidity,  rode 
from  one  to  another  of  the  spy-company,  ordering  them 
to  give  quarter  to  all.  Dr.  Kane  is  still  at  the  house  of 
General  Gaona,  who  said  yesterday  to  Colonel  Childs, 
the  Governor  of  Puebla,  when  he  called  on  the  illus- 
trious prisoners  who  are  quartered  with  Colonel  Gaona  at 
the  palace,  that  he  owed  his  life  to  Dr.  Kane,  and  would 
be  glad  at  any  time  to  die  for  him.  General  Torrcjon 
said  that  he  too  owed  him  his  life;  and  so  did  others  of 
the  officers." 

In  "  The  Pcnnsylvanian"  of  the  24th  of  March,  1848, 
the  following  account  of  the  Nopaluca  affiiir  appeared  : — 

"  It  seems  that  in  anticipation  of  the  American  attack 
upon  Orizaba,  since  signally  successful,  a  column  of 
Mexicans  was  hastening  to  reinforce  that  place,  a  con- 
siderable distance  in  advance  of  which  rode  on  their  way 
a  bevy  of  distinguished  officers  with  a  troop  of  lancers. 
Dr.  Kane  and  his  escort,  hastening  to  the  city  of  Mexico 
with  important  despatches,  encountered  these  on  the 
high-road  near  Nopaluca,  about  thirty  miles  distant 
from  Puebla. 

"It  is  not  clear  to  us  how  the  doctor  ranked  in  the 
party,  which  was  the  contra-guorilla  or  Mexican  spy- 
company  of  the  notorious  Domingues;    but  it  appears 


BESCtTEJJ^f    PKISONEES.  Jjy 

that  it  was  at  las  instance.if^at  his  order  that  th 
brief      Th.    A  "  *'^''"'  ^''^  ''""iant  but 

Puebla      It  •,  °''  '"''""•^'^'  ""d  carried  to 

the  To^jon  who  has  been  reported  ol,        '°"'~ 
-  often,-is  one  of  the  prisoners."  "^  ^  "''^ 

Th.s  IS  the  sum  of  the  military  report  of  th»        .* 
»ow  for  that  whieh  smacks  of  romance  "^ 

"At  one  period  of  the  charge,  when  Dr  K 
some  distance  ahead  of  the  rest  nf  .  """' 

W  carried  him  in  bet  !  en !  ^d  r'""^''  '"  '"^ 
his  orderly,  who  fell  upon  hij  t  th  ™"""'°'' ''"' 
The  lance  of  the  latter'f^led Tt  the  t^i  ''T  ""°"""'- 

y  um  seized  him  by  his  arm,  crying,  ^Father  '  m^^  f.f».     , 
save  mv  fathpr  I'    tv  /  -^ '^^"er  i  my  lather ! 

Had  .axxciidered  to  Dr.  Kane.     He  was  at 


a 

2! 


118 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


the  moiiieiit  defending  hiniscH!,  bure-lieaded  and  unarmed^ 
against  his  assaihmts.  Dr.  Kane  saved  him  and  numerous 
others ;  but  it  api)ears  that  he  did  so  with  great  efforts, 
and  at  considerable  personal  risk." 

A  writer  at  Puebla,  in  the  "  Inquirer,"  under  date  of 
the  26th  January,  says,  "  He  parried  four  sabre-cuts  that 
were  made  at  hiui,  and  did  not  succeed  in  enforcing 
obedience  to  his  orders  until  he  had  drawn  his  six- 
shooter — which  all  Mexicans  hold  in  mortal  dread — and 
fired  at  Colonel  Domingues,  the  commander  of  the  squad- 
ron ;  and  the  doctor  received  a  thrust  from  a  lance  in  the 
lowx^r  part  of  his  abdomen.     They  also  killed  his  horse." 

The  correspondent  of  "The  Pennsylvanian"  con- 
tinues : — 

"^  As  soon  as  the  old  general  was  rescued,  he  sat  down 
by  the  side  of  the  major,  his  son,  to  comfort  his  last 
painful  moments.  When  the  doctor  observed  that  that 
individual  was  bleeding  to  death  from  an  artery  in  the 
groin,  he  made  an  effort  in  his  behalf  With  the  bent 
prong  of  a  table-fork  he  took  up  the  artery  and  tied  it 
with  a  ravel  of  packthread,  and  the  rude  surgical  opera- 
tion was  perfectly  successful. 

"  When  they  all  arrived  safely  at  Puebla,  the  gratitude 
of  the  Mexicans  saved  was  extravagant.  They  publicly 
declared  to  Colonel  Childs,  the  American  Governor  of 
Puebla,  that  they  owed  their  lives  to  Dr.  Kane ;  and 
the  governor  thereupon  returned  him  thanks  for  his 
gallantry  and  humanity.  General  Gaona  proffered  him 
the  choice  of  his  stables  to  replace  his  Kentucky  stallion 


TYPHUS    FEVER. 


119 


I 

if- 


untnnely  bu  cherod  i„  the  connict,  au,I  some  sort  of 
honorary  ie^t.val  was  i„  preparation,  when  the  dolor 
from    he  effeet  of  the  wound  in  the  abdon.n    '   ^ 
l^bab,,,  to  great  ph,,ea.  exhaustion,  fell  dea  ^  2,  ' 
H.S  d,,,ea.e  toolc  the  form  of  Cakntura  typhoidea_t  e 
worst  of  t,phus,-and,  after  .,ing  i..  ,  .    to^^L^^^ 

*  •  •  •  • 
"His  life  was  spared  through  the  gratitude  of  the 
noble  od  Span,ard  who  owed  ids  own  to  him.     On  tl  e 

seeon    da,  of  Dr.  Kane's  iiluess  he  insisted  upon  ear. ^ 
™  to  Ins  own  prineel,  residence,  and  gave  him  t.fe 

se^;    iif  ''Z  """'"''  ^"^  '"-^^  ->>-''  ^  -fined 
^ons,bd,ty  eould   suggest  and  ample  nieans    provided 

pl.s!  ed  daughtoi^,  took  upon  themselves  all  the  offieesof 
me,>.a Is,  suffering  the  eare  of  nursing  and  attending    il 

IncU.:      ?       '  '/  *"^  ""'''=''"^'  '""  °^  ^^'-"4 
had  ni  waitmg  niglit  and  d.ay."  ^ 

We  have  given  these  newspaper-reports  of  the  affair 
a   Nopaluca  for  the  substanee  of  truth  there  is  in  tlem 
boeause  w.  have  no  narrative  of  the  ineident,  from  I' 
Pnncpal  aetor  himself     Onee  onl,  i„  all  our  persona 

~e  the  sldrnUsh  of  that  6th  of  Janu L;  ™ 
alluded   0  and  then  only  to  eorrect  one  of  the  e.xaier 

t;-ofh,ssurgiealservieeto3oungGaona.     «;::!. 
11.    wound  was  not  in  the  groin  :  it  was  in  the  ehest:' 
and  the  artery  was  one  of  the  iutercostals." 


at 


o 

23 


r 


*■ 


120 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


s '  V, 


Bj  way  of  necessary  explanation,  I  may  as  well  say 
here,  where  it  is  most  required,  that  he  never  stood 
questioning  on  his  own  acliievements,  and  he  could  not 
be  ransacked  by  the  most  adroit  endeavors  of  even  a 
warrantable  curiosity.  He  has  scores  of  times  turned  me 
from  the  narrative  of  his  experiences  to  such  points  of 
scientific  interest  as  they  suggested.  He  never  would 
"  sit"  a  moment  still  under  scrutiny,  or  allow  himself  to 
be  the  subject  of  conversation. 

This  fight  with  the  Mexican  generals  and  their  escort, 
and  the  subsequent  struggle  with  his  own  scoundrels, 
was  of  all  others  the  very  one  on  which  he  was  indis- 
posed to  speak.  His  personal  involvement,  his  danger, 
and  the  resulting  suffering,  which  put  him  under  the 
deepest  obligations  for  personal  kindness  to  the  very 
party  to  whom  he  had  been  in  the  same  hour  a  foe  at 
sword-point  and  a  friend  at  even  greater  risk,  and  after- 
wards an  object  of  care  and  solicitude  for  so  many  weary 
days,  mixed  his  emotions  only  too  painfully  for  agreeable 
reflection.  Moreover,  he  had  been  in  Mexico  long 
enough,  and  was  too  well  acquainted  with  the  men  and 
events  of  the  last  winter  of  that  war  to  feel  comfortable 
under  the  reflection  that  either  his  country  or  himself 
had  any  thing  to  answer  for  concerning  it. 

If  he  had  lived  a  century  after  that  experience,  he 
would  not  have  been  caught  doing  any  more  patriotism, 
unless  it  had  first  been  warranted  well  principled,  and 
its  governing  councils  were  somewhat  more  intent  upon 
monly  service  to  the  country  than  the  promotion  of  tlieir 


CHARGES    AGA^fSIVDOMINGUES.  121 

own  paltry  interests.     His  aftor  lifc  fo;„i 

feelino-   for  ;t  7    ilter-Iile  fairly  -xpressed  this 

'eelmg,  for  it  was  resolutely  guided  by  it.     He  never 

sought  or  enjoyed  a  nartinlp  nf  n 

*!,  .  .•        .,.  P^irticle  of  Government  favor  from 

that  time  till  the  end  of  his  career 

All  that  we  have  from  himself  on  this  matter  comes 
ndirectly   but   clearly  enough   from   a   formal   chaZ 

e    menloT,      ''^"''  ''""'''''''   ""  "™'"«'   -^- 

derous  assault  of  Domingues  and  his  ba^Iits. 

carlful,     ""'"'?'  '""'  "■"'"  '"  «>-«  'J-™-"*^  were 
— ly^prepared  from  the  testimony  ready  for  th.: 

rall'trr'""  "'""'  ''"'"'"°™''  ^™^  '»••'<'«  to  Gene, 
ral  Butler,  then  acting  commander-in-chief:  General  Sco  t 
had  b^een  superseded  a  month  before  its  date,     l!^! 

,  "  ^"^  °^  M"'"™,  March  14,  1848. 

the  city  of  Mexico,  accompanied  by  an  escort  of  lancers 
nde  ana  of  Colonel  Domingues,  we  fell  i„  JZ 

body  of  Mexican  troops  near  Nopaluca 

reiln  T'  "  r  ""  "'"''  """'^''  """"^'"^  «»-  -d  Tor- 
rojon.  Major  Gaona,  and  two  captain.^  w-ere  taken  nri  ,„ 

ers,  together  with  thirty-eight  ra!ik  and  file.    T^       T; 

-pec^ullysubmittoyournoticethefollowingf;^^^    wZ 
IamaHotnsustainbvsati..(hct„v„te.,tim(  '"■'''^'"'='' 


sfactorj'^ 


lony,— VIZ. 


i 


122 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


"  I.  That,  after  the  formal  surrcndor  of  tlio  Mexican 
party,  Doiniiigucs,  with  his  Lioutcnants  Palhvsios,  Rocher, 
and  others,  did,  in  cold  blood,  attempt  to  sabre  the 
prisoners. 

"II.  That  an  American  officer,  upon  interjjosing  his 
person  and  horse,  was  similarly  menaced  and  assaulted, — 
receiving  thereby  an  injury  of  a  most  serious  character 
and  losing  a  valuable  animal." 

[The  remaining  charges  were  for  robbing  the  prisoners 
of  their  personal  eflects,  and  afterwards  exposing  them 
to  cruel  and  ignominious  treatment  on  their  way  to 
Puebla;  and  for  a  second  attempt  to  shoot  them,  thirty- 
six  hours  after  the  surrender,  which  was  prevented  only 
by  a  resolute  resistance,  which  succeeded  by  intimidating 
the  ruflians  without  resort  to  force. 

The  accusation  concludes  by  demanding  the  punish- 
ment of  the  colonel  and  the  restoration  of  the  stolen 
property.] 

(Signed,)  "E.K.Kane, 

"  Marine  Betachmcut.'' 


The  horse-claim  furnishes  us  wdth  the  rest  of  the 
authentic  data  in  our  possession. 

Dr.  Kane  writes  to  the  Secretary  of  War  under 
date  of 

"  Philadelphia,  July  21,  1848. 

"  Sir  : — I  left  Perote  fortress  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1848,  under  orders  to  report  to  General  Scott  at  the 
city   of  Mexico.     My  escort  consisted   of  a  party  of 


TUE    HOUSE-CLAIM. 


123 


lancers,  Mexicans  !„   thT^of  the   United   States 
commanded  by  Colonel  Bomin.rues  ' 

in-  Genor.,l«  n  /  -^  of  Mexicans  escort- 

ii'to   uenerals  Gaona  and  Torroinn   «    i     ., 

After  a  ^hnri       .•  -^^rrejon  and  other  officers. 

-ot.o,ene™,/m,::L:— r;:::r'^^^ 

n>y  special  protection   against    n  ^      """'' 

nought  to  km  them  aft:;"  """f "'  '""''  "''° 

effort  to  shield  them  an        T"        '   "'"  '"  ""^ 

ty  Lieutenant  Eochor  I  tpp,.;,,.  t  '      •'^'        ''''"^ 

uuitr,  1  received  a  severe  wound  frr.m  . 

lanee  m  the  resion  of  tl,„  1 1   i ,  " 

imn,ediatelv  l,ef  ''''"■'  "^  '""'^o  ''»ving 

mnieuiatcly  before  been  struck  down  bv  n  l.„  , 

the  shoulder  from  the  same  party  '         ""  "'"'"' 

weTe™;''"™""""'''"'"''™^  '-P-S  i-  till 

-:::::ie:rr::;r:^^^^^^^^^^^ 

unable  to  ride,  was  placed  in  a  ^  '  '"'''''' 

™t  of  the  wounded.  "'''"^  ""  "'''^  *">« 

"My  horse  was  forced  alon"-  with  rliffl    u    ,, 

of  the  country  in  T  T,  "™  "'  ^''""^^  ^™1>« 

country,  m  the  Barris  San   MiVnni   i 

:::r '*"-'"" -"•■"- »":-/: 

"In  company  with  Lieutenant  Foster  I  snxv  l.'  \  ^ 
there  at  the  halt      TJ  •  '        ^^  ^^^  ^^^y 

"^t!  nait.     I  Ins  was  on  the  7th. 


*f4 


Oil 


'4 

X. 

*-: 

O 

23 


124 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


"On  reaching  Puebla,  I  was  attacked  very  dangerously 
by  congestive  typhus  fever,  in  consequence  of  my 
wound  and  the  exposure  which  followed  it. 

"  My  certificate,  and  the  affidavit  of  Lieutenant  Foster 
which  accompanies  it,  -./ore  made  at  the  suggestion  of 
Major  Morris,  of  the  artillery, — then  acting  as  judge 
advocate, — as  soon  as  I  was  able  to  write. 

"  My  condition  at  the  time  may  serve  as  the  apology 
for  the  brevity  and  want  of  detail  of  those  papers. 

"  I  was  subsequently  carried  in  a  wagon  to  the  city 
of  Mexico,  where  I  reported,  and,  having  been  inspected 
by  the  surgeons,  was  ordered  to  the  United  States  as 
invalided.  I  therefore  saw  little  of  Lieutenant  Foster 
after  our  interview  at  Puebla,  and,  his  corps  having  been 
disbanded,  I  do  not  know  his  residence.  He  belonged  to 
the  Louisiana  mounted  men,  Captain  Lewis's  company. 
I  am  unable  for  this  reason  to  procure  a  supplemental 
affidavit  from  him,  and  he  was  the  only  American  officer 
on  the  field  with  me ;  but  I  shall  transmit  copies  of  this 
letter  to  the  principal  officers  of  the  United  States  whom 
I  found  in  command  at  Pue[)la,  and  shall  write  thein  to 
verify  such  of  the  facts  as  have  come  to  their  knowledge 
either  from  personal  observation  or  official  position. 
"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Elisiia  K.  Kane," 
"  To  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War." 


In  answer  to  Dr.  Kane's  circular,  spoken  of  in  thi^ 


WHAT    THE    nOESE-CLAIM    PEOYED.  125 

1^,1848)  res,d,„g  ,„  New  Castle,  Belawa:.,  writes  :- 

...  Wnlst   I  was  in   the    Government    Palaca 
Pucbla  as  judge  advocate,  Lieutenant  Foster  n.ade  oath 

Miguel  „,  consequence  of  a  lanee-wound  received  in  an 
engagement  with  the  enem,  which  took  place  betwe " 
Ojo  de  Agua  and  Nopaluca.     Previous  to  that  affidavit 
General  Gaona,  in  giving  ,„o  an  account  of  the  batul 
ha     stated  that  through  ,our  instrumentality  alonf 

h:  0,^:;';°"*'' :--  -™'  ^--  ^^^^  ei-hwi 

uuicnerj  ot  Dominmiess  band-  ihn^  +i, 

o  ^'-'^'3  u.uju  J  tiiMt  the  enrrao-empnf  woo 

~e  though  short  one;  and  , our  own  »«:: 

st;  at  PuetZ  ~"  "^"  ^"^'^  ^"""^'^  ""^- 

"The  circumstance  of  there  having  been  no  regular 

offical  report  must  be  accounted   for  by  the  w" 

2::tt\r''''-""™''"''"<'^  "-''■"" 

0  vi.h  "'^'^""^^'°"'  -  I  '-k  upon  it,  has  nothing  to 
do  «Uh  your  loss.  The  h„r.,e  was  positively  know,:  to 
have  been  killed  by  hostile  Mexicans,  and  if  Zil 
W  battle,  the  ease  loses  none  of   ts     o  d    1^ 

f  *  --"'""'-.CO.     I  knew  the   animal  well,;  J     " 
value  was  full  ,;,  ,.„„j,^j  ,„„  '"  ^  '- 

-™Wught.hatsum.ifnotmore,ateven:r;:ed:^^^^^^ 
Vobmteer,       T"'       '  ""'■■''""'  ™'-''"""  United  S.ates 

«:::  tL:i!:,r  '.'':'?'f  r  ""™"'^-  ^'  ^««. 

" "    '"  *'T'b'  to  >our  in,|niry  as  to 


•,.,J 


O 


126 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


smji 


my  knowledge  of  the  circumstances  of  the  loss  of  your 
horse,  I  can  and  do  certify,  on  honor,  that  I  visited  you 
daily  during  the  time  you  lay  sick  at  the  house  of 
General  Gaona  with  typhus  fever,  the  result  of  the 
wound  received  in  the  action  with  the  Mexicans  in 
the  before-mentioned  engagement,  which  occurred  near 
Nopaluca  on  the  7th  of  January  last ;  and,  moreover, 
that  both  during  the  time  of  your  illness,  and  subse- 
quently, I  have  heard  both  Generals  Gaona  and  Torrejon 
refer  to  the  fact  that  your  horse  had  been  killed  by  a 
lance-wound  in  the  action,  and  they  expressed  regret 
that  a  person  to  whom  they  owed  their  lives  should 
have  met  with  so  severe  a  loss. 

"Colonel  Gaona,  who  was  dangerously  wounded  in 
the  same  engagement,  repeatedly  described  to  me  the 
proud,  prancing  position  of  your  horse  when  he  was 
pierced  by  the  lance.  Indeed,  the  circumstances  of  his 
death  were  matters  of  town-talk  in  Puebla,  and  their 
omission  in  the  official  reports  is  only  to  be  accounted 
for  by  the  debased  character  of  Domingues." 

The  testimony  of  Assistant  Surgeon  G.  E.  Cooper, 
United  States  army,  is  to  the  same  effect,  and  as  full. 


CHAPTER  Vlir. 


!.«.   KANE'S   ACCEPTANC,      T  -<'"»""««TA«V    SWORD- 

AIM>    GAIN     UI'ON     "jtVTjn"       ™ 
-INVALIDED-HOMEW.Bn  "EAD-QUARTERS 

JAW  -  DYING  EXPFRiEvrv        .  ^'^=^"^«RANEAN-LOCK- 

™™.».-.A.;r:::;r::~:---^^^ 

OTHEa  «KFRES,r,,ENTS--oPE   TO  T,,.    .         ''*^'^*»'>'»'iAIENT  AND 

'    lU   THE  ARCTIC. 

The  young  countrymen  of  n„.  i 

with   a  L         Z?  'T"'^^'''  '^""''^  -'  "e  »,i.fied 
"fl^wr  at  Nopd   """'^f'^''"'^''   "--"-e  of  the 

.ratifiea  wi  r  :';;:,7''' '"-  -'-'  -  it  be 

•J-ervea  to  be    Jrit  '  ^  ''"  "^   "■"'"«■"=•      '' 

■ivingana^u;vt:,^:r^:'"'"^ ""''-- 

"^^"'o)  was  and  is  a  dopr  nf  +i  • 
worker  in  fiiPfa .  „    i  ^^   tinn<?s,  a 

"'3  own !'::",;:  t  "■"'  '"^^ ''™  --"^  ^^-'^'^ 

At  Pu.  1,,,,  1  !    f'""*'' '"  ^•''•-'-S '"- 
kn 


upon  the  spot  „,,ere  u.^  f„e,,  „,„„  ^ 


own,  and  seven  weoks  after  th 


occurrence,  wlion  the 


Mi* 


0m 

23 


127 


128 


ELISIIA    KEIS'T    KANE. 


incidents  had  full  time  to  settle  into  certainty,  the  best 
authorities  add  their  testimony  to  the  facts  of  this  story 
and  record  their  understanding  of  them. 


Colonel    Chillis,    American     Commandant  at   Puehla,    to 

General  Gaona. 


"Office  of  the  Civil  and  Military  Governor, 
TuERLA,  February  9,  18-18. 


} 


"  General  : — For  more  than  thirty  days  I  have  been  an 
eye-witness  to  the  kind  and  affectionate  treatment  of  your- 
self and  amiable  family  to  Surgeon  Kane,  of  the  United 
States  navy,  bearer  of  despatches  to  the  general-in-chief. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  general-in-chief  of  the  American 
army,  and  especially  in  the  name  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  whose 
arm  of  the  service  this  officer  more  particularly  belongs, 
I  give  you  my  most  sincere  thanks. 

"It  appears  that  Dr.  Kane,  of  the  United  States 
navy,  was  marching  under  an  escort  of  a  native  spy- 
company,  when  a  detach tnent  of  Mexicans  who  were 
escorting  you  fell  in  with  said  company;  that  a  fight 
immediately  ensued,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  several 
Mexican  officers;  yourself  and  your  son,  Major  Gaona, 
were  of  the  number  of  the  captives,  the  latter  severely, 
and  for  a  time  considered  mortally,  wounded, — possibly 
by  the  hands  of  the  officer  to  whom  you  extended  sucli 
noble  hospitality.  It  further  appears  that  this  officer, 
after  the  excitement  of  the  battle  was  over,  and  yon 
and  }our  comrades  were  prisoners  of  war,  interposed 


COLONEI^HILDS'    LETTER.      ■  ]29 

his  person  to  save   the  ll^^T^ t,,,  eaptured  officer^- 
that  .n  dcng  so  he  received  fro.  one  of  the  spy-  on! 

and  that  the  blow,  too-ethpr  xKriih  +i  . 

'  lUfeetner  with  the  excessive  fafiVnA 

Foduced  the  sickness  that  can.e  so  near  tornriraM: 
earthly  career;  that  ,vhile  smarting  under  the  circum 
stances  wh.ch  occasioned  your  capture,  as  was  feL  ,' 
mortal  wound  to  your  son,  and  you  at  the  san.e  Ze  a 
lose  pnsoner,  insisted  on  Dr.  Kane  being  taken  to  v  ur 
house,  where  he   was  attended    by  your   ami!, 
aecomplishedwife  and  daughters  Jitflu    h  'attl 
fta«  kindness  and  sisterly  love  could  diet!: 

L  t    tt?  '""^"^'°^«'  '"  *•-  -"'ice  of  his  country 
and  to  the  arms    "•  an  affectionate  family  ^ 

"To  th,s  noble  and  magnanimous  conduct  on  your 

g  neial.m.ch,ef,  and  the   Government  of  my  countrv 
-'-  I  say  that  yourself  and  son  are  released  frlyou; 

r,:::r'r'^-'-^--'''^-ytorem:irn 

«A    Tf  "'T™^  """  '*  "'''^'  1^^  y°"  pleasure. 
As  the  commander  of  the  department  ofPu.bh  I 

tenderyoumypersonal  thanks,  co,.sideration.a„d     tern 
»nd  have  the  honor  to  be  your  most  obedient  se^vlnt 

"  Tiio,\tAs  Childs, 

^0  ijiig.  Gen  I  Antonio  Gaona, 

Mexican  Army,  Puebla."' 

9 


erf 


%/1 

-4 
X 

o 

22 


130 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


TRANSLATION   OF   GENERAL   GAONA's   ANSWER. 

"PuEBLA,  February  12,  18-18. 

"  Colonel  : — In  due  reply  to  the  very  courteous  and 
kind  note  of  your  Excellency  under  date  of  the  9th  mst., 
I  am  bound  to  say  that.  ii.  receiving  Dr.  Kane  into  our 
dwelling  and  afibrdin^  he  aid  which  the  lamentable 

state  of  his  health  required,  I  did  nothing  more  than 
to  comply  with  the  duties  of  hospitality  and  gratitude ; 
for  most  assuredly  I  shall  always  most  gratefully  acknow- 
ledge the  inestimable  services  rendered  by  Dr.  Kane  to 
myself  and  those  of  my  company,  in  saving  our  lives 
when  his  escort  threatened  us  with  death  after  taking  us 
prisoners. 

"  I  offer  a  thousand  thanks  to  Divine  Providence  for 
saving  the  life  of  the  much-esteemed  Dr.  Kane ;  for  the 
opposite  result  would  have  been  a  most  deplorable  and 
fatal  blow  to  myself  and  my  family,  who  are  now 
rejoicing  in  the  expectation  that  ere  long,  as  you  say, 
he  may  once  more  have  the  gratification  of  embracing 
his  excellent  ftimily,  and  being  restored  to  the  usefulness 
for  which  his  conduct  has  proved  him  fit  in  the  service 
of  his  nation,  which,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  continue  as 
grateful  towards  Dr.  Kane  as  I  shall  ever  feel  to  him,  as 
well  as  I  shall  to  the  general  commander-in-chief  and 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  for  the  distin- 
guished and  unparalleled  favor  with  which  it  has  been 
pleased  to  honor  me.  Tendering  at  the  same  time,  also, 
to  your  Excellency,  with  all  the  warmth  of  my  heart. 


"THE    FLAG    OF    FREEDOM."  I3J 

-bounded  thanks  for  y^i^^,  ,^^^^^^^^  .^ 
matter,  pray.ng  you  to  communicate   the  same  to  his 
txcelleney  w.th  my  sincere  gratitude,  and  a"o  to  the 
^^.ng„,shed   officers  of  your  garrison,  from  ll 

We    ece,ved  so  many  attentions,  and  placin.  i  Hhe 
mean  ,  ,„„,  ,,^^^.^^^^  ^^  ^^J        .J    h 

'0  -^ "  To  retr  ^'"'  '"^ '—  ^'-^"- 

^""^  J^xcellency  assurances  of  the  irrifpfn] 
attachment  with  which  I  h.vp  +1.     i.  grateful 

myself  *^'  ^^"^'  ^«  ««bscribe 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

''Bonirrcr;:"-^''^^^^'-^^-^'^' 
%i:t:,aXtro^rr^^™^^--^«--- 

they  occupied  the  nhce      I  «      """  '™"'"  "''"'^ 

United  StLsinthX«-^f^^^^^ 

-/'at  the  instance  Of?::::  f:;7  3^ 

"-  note  to  the  editor,  says,  among  other  t.  b  ',   ^T 
Pc»nally  knowing  to  the  facts  :hich  ied   o  t 
spondencp      n^  1.-         •      ,  ^  *"®  ^o^^^e- 

United   8tat  s   n?       fi     '"'^'^^^^"^^  ^^^  -^^eon  of  the 
Officer  doelt      3'  ^^::tr"^  !  ^-  -^  better 


not  live."    "TheFIagofFreedc 


fvn  editorial  note  unon  the 


om"  lias  also 


at 

;23 


correspondence,  endorsing  the 


132 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


W:^: 


commendation  of  Dr.  Kane's  chivalric  service  to  his 
Mexican  prisoners,  and  their  gratitude  to  him,  and 
applauding  the  handsome  acknowledgment  by  Colonel 
Childs. 

The  Wistar  party  which  he  surprised  by  his  desertion 
in  the  midst  of  their  festivities  in  the  autumn  of  1847, 
when  he  left  them  for  Washington  City  and  wrenched 
from   the   President  the  last   chance  for   distinguished 
service  in  the  Mexican  campaign,  had  a  more  pleasing 
surprise  when  they  met  a  year  afterwards,  reinforced 
by  the  most  distinguished  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  to 
honor  the  gallant  and  generous  improvement  he  had  made 
of  the  slender  opportunity  which  the  appointment  had 
afforded.     More  than  seventy  gentlemen  of  the  city,  the 
popularly-accredited  representatives   and   exponents  of 
its  spirit  and  feelings,  signalized  their  ajDpreciation  of 
their   young  townsman's   achievement  in  the   manner 
which  the  following  correspondence  displays  :— 

"  Philadelphia,  February  8,  1849. 

"To  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  United  States  Navy: 

"  Dear  Sir  : — We  are  honored  in  being  permitted  by 
your  friends  and  fellow-citizens  of  Philadelphia  to  offer 
in  their  name,  for  your  acceptance,  the  accompanying 
sword. 

"  This  modest  testimonial  is  tendered  as  a  record  of 
their  high  appreciation  of  your  conduct  in  the  service 
of  our  country,  whose  proud  boast  is  that  their  sons,  in 
every  grade,  have  proved  themselves  gloriously  prompt 


m 


COMPLIMENTARY    SWORD.  133 

-ITIrE  "^"^^^^  ~»  .ua  the 

'o  the  vanquished.  ^    ^  ^'  ""^^"'^  ''"'"•^""^ 

the  archives  of  vol     '  T  "''""'■'  "'"  '^''  *'""'!  '« 

.our  own  hoi  i  ^ rr^-^  K  ^^  ^"^^  —' 
sense  of  your  co„r.  T       ^     """  *"  '''"^'"■'l  "'"if 

n-e^orialCorr  ""'"'"'"'  ""-"""^  "  ^'^ 

y^^:^  '°'  '"-  '^^^--^  -  -i^e  and 
honor  to  be  """^  ^""  '"'''™'  -  ''ave  the 

"Your  fellow-citizens, 

"T.  DuN^LAP, 

"JoiwM.  Read, 
..^        .  "N.  Chapman., 

a>..-«..  0/  tke  CUi^ns  of  PMlaM^Uar 

DR.  Kane's  beplt. 

"UmtED  States  Ship  St,PP„, 

»f  -me  of  onr  I  ,„       J  '^"""''"'^  "«'«  »»  "x^-If 
offering  it  Lfc L  to  H  7"'   ""'    *""  '"■^°'"«-'* 

y  servzces  of  m,ne.     But  I  shall  eherish 


23 


iii 


134 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


them  as  memorials  of  regard  from  men  whom  I  have 
always  been  taught  to  honor,  and  whose  kind  estimation 
would  be  an  ample  reward  even  for  the  meritorious. 
"I  am,  gentlemen,  very  gratefully  and  truly, 
"  Your  friend  and  servant, 

"E.  K.  Kane. 
"Thomas  DtJNLAP,  Esq., 
"Hon.  John  M.  Read, 
"N.  Chapman,  M.D., 

'^Committee.'' 


I 


Determined  neither  to  write  nor  compile  the  narrative 
of  this  {gallant  and  generous  exploit,  but  merely  and 
simply  to  collate  its  authenticated  facts,  it  is  never- 
theless due  to  the  reader  to  supply  some  of  the  incidents 
which  are  not  in  the  record,  but  are  not  the  less  suffi- 
ciently well  ascertained. 

The  wound  which  Colonel  Gaona  received  in  the 
action  is  stated  as  inflicted  '^posslhly  by  the  hands  of  the 
officer"  whom  the  family  were  at  the  time  nursing  under 
the  same  roof  with  their  suffering  son.  There  was  really 
no  uncertainty  about  it ;  but  Colonel  Childs  covers  the 
fact,  which  so  much  enhanced  the  kindness  of  General 
Gaona,  with  a  delicacy  of  doubt  which  nobody  enter- 
tained, because  all  parties  wished  it  otherwise  and 
avoided  all  unnecessary  allusion  to  it. 

The  "  circumstances  which  had  made  the  two  generals 
Dr.  Kane's  personal  prisoners"  were  that  they  had  sur- 
rendered to  him  personally. 


LOSS    AND    GAINJ7P0.Y    "keliC."  I35 

In  the  desperate  deW  whidT  he  made  for  hi.  .    • 
soners  when  they  were  attn.l-.,l     r.       ,  ^''''" 

n      •  'Attacked,  after  the  surrender  h^r 

DoiTiinffues  anrl  lilc,  +        T  s'wiieiiucr,  oy 

ouch  wouici   have   taken  another    ,v  +i      i 

was  aimed  It  th    .  Za      h  ,     "'*  '™"-*'^"^* 

desperate  the  brietTn  fl  \     ^        '''"^  ''°'^  *^«  ""'l 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1849    the  W      n 
awardoJ  ^,„„,„  fo,  jh^f^, j;;'  ;''<^  ^-  Department 

cannot  he  called  n„  '"'"''«'''  ''°"«« 

withheld  fo    1   '''?""""'  ''^"™'"">'  ''fter  it  was 

trouble  to  ^he  an  2rt    '""''  '"''^^'  ^"«>  ^  -™h 
uic  api)licant  as  was  well  wnrfl,  +i        i    i 

We  liave  not  relieved  this  ^in..-    f  .1 

;  p.-oro.or  of  n,athe.nati:':::;. ::; :  rhri?- 

l-vo  faithftdl^  disenchanted  the  rocita     and  " 

'•emit  the  bare-bone  facts  tn  tl     7  ^^ "°"' 

->'om   we   have   held         W  "''  "'  "'"  "•^''- 

-ientious  dullness  '   ""^''^'""'  "^  "^  ~n- 

His  illness  at  Puebia  was  so  severe  th.t  I, 


136 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


t- 


-i« 


held  unquestionable  for  many  days  before  the  relief  of 
better  news  arrived. 

He  was  to  have  startedfor  the  city  of  Mexico  on  the  16th 
of  February;  but  learning,  as  he  states  it,  providentially, 
that  four  hundred  mounted  men  under  Padre  Jaurata 
were  waiting  for  them,  the  train,  already  on  the  march, 
was  ordered  back,  and  they  set  out  on  the  18th  with  a 
larger  force.  On  the  25th,  at  St.  Martin,  he  writes  :— 
"  The  good  effects  of  my  Mexican  interference  mingle 
themselves  with  the  bad.  I  am  twenty  miles  from 
Puebla,  at  the  base  of  Popocatei^etl,— the  rain  falling, 
the  wind  howhng,  and  some  two  thousand  poor  devils 
shivering  under  their  tent-poles.  I  am  with  General 
Torrejon,  snugly  housed,  warmly  welcomed,  and  await- 
ing a  call  to  supper." 

From  Mexico  he  wrote  :— "  My  movements  unknown : 
should  the  doctors,  as  they  threaten,  order  me  home,  I 
will  apply  for  a  leave,  only  for  the  armistice,  so  as  to 
return  to  save  my  honor  and  be  in  at  the  death."  Again, 
on  the  3d  of  March  :—"  My  surgeons  have  declared  this 
poor  carcass  unfit  for  duty;  and  yet  the  carca.ss  will  not 
leave  Mexico."  On  the  14th  of  March,  he  says  :— "  You 
are  aware  that  the  surgeons  have  condemned  me ;  their 
opinion  is  formally  written  out,  signed  by  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  hospitals,  and  hy  the  surgeon-general  of 
the  army;  but,  in  spite  of  this,  Mexico  I  will  not  leave 
until  I  can  do  so  clearly,— until  the  armistice  is  more 
definite  or  peace  is  more  prospective." 

Tlie  armistice  satisfied  him;  the  opportunities  of  the 


service  were  gone,  and^^iTtl^th  of  An  m  i 

^^era  Cruz,  on  his  ,,,.  j,,,,^  'ij'^^  °^  ^^/^^  ^^  was  at 

telling  points :-  ''  ''^"^^  ^^^^'^^  ^'^^  «ome 

"On  mj  homeward  trail  and  1-,.,+  .«. 
^■--  city!    An  escort  of  «    L  I  ''  ''°'"  *^ 

.0 in  f  ,,^^,^^ ^_ t.oC:::x;z 

"S-in  ret.,™,  .  U-okenlZZ'^'T-  '"  "■"'^'  ' 
S-y,  but  that  I  have  „o  r  M  f  "■  """""^'^ 
P-'-eu.aH,  ™a,,  hut  that  I  W  ^hj  ^l'"  ^T 
never  to  see  me  a-ain   .nrl  r.     j    7        ^       "  '  '  ^''^'''''^ 

^ei"=-i.appoi„ter:';:j,:^;3- 

«-  lives  may  make  n>e  a  moL  ilort     .  "=  '•''''^' 

eyes.  It  ,vas  a  clear  bargain  1!'/"""  "  ^"" 
My  very  dea..e„t  love  to  .CL  ^nT  ,r^"  "^  '  '  " 
I-ito  so  tba.Hess,3U  b    i  L  : ';'■     ^'"r'°"' 

Jie  suffered  terrilJ^^  f.,^      i  •    , 
return      T    !-  ,  ""'""■^  '^°»  '™  lanee-wouud  after  his 

t'^e  BepartmU  fo  r :::  oT  "■".^''""^'  •"  --^ 

Philadelphia  Navy-Yard.  W™"tme„t  at  the 

The  question  was  raised  whether  tim  ,     *        , 
given  to  an  «.«Wa«.surgeo„      Dr  K         7    """  ''' 
-Heal  eorps  bestirred  Cselt    Z   ™"'^  '"  *"^ 
'""•'     The  appointing  officer  V     ^"•.  *''^^  ^^'^  recess- 


<i' 


•*^i 


dehghted  to  le 


ain  trom 


138 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE, 


fe- 
r- 


tile head  of  the  bureau  that  the  clever  thing  could  be 
doiiCj  and  without  the  least  delay  he  did  appoint — 
another  man  to  the  post! 

Dr.  Kane  never  fattened  on  favoritism.  With  the  grand 
exception  of  the  Honorable  John  V.  Kennedy,  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  when  he  was  preparing  for  his  second 
Arctic  Expedition,  he  was  left  at  perfect  moral  liberty 
to  be  as  ungrateful  for  nothing  to  the  functionaries  of  the 
Government  as  he  might  i)lease  to  feel. 

Dr.  Kane  was  not  a  West-Pointer:  he  was  only  an 
assistant  navy  surgeon;  and  it  was  not  regular  nor 
orderly  for  him  to  be  always  dislocating  the  honors  of 
the  service  by  illustrating  it  above  his  degree. 

In  Jaiuuiry,  18-11),  we  find  him  at  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
attached  to  the  store-ship  Supply,  Commander  Arthur 
Sinclair, — destination  Lisbon,  the  Mediterranean,  and 
Kio  Janeiro.     The  ship  sailed  in  February. 

At  sea,  "beating  tediously  between  Spezzia  and  Gib- 
raltar," on  the  IGtli  of  May,  he  wrote  to  one  of  his 
friends.  The  letter  has  matter  in  it  of  nuich  value  in 
making  up  a  medical  judgment  upon  the  disease  Avhich, 
never  wholly  leaving  him,  was  at  lust  fatal : — 

'•I  have  been  sick,  and,  indeed,  am  not  yet  well.  .  .  . 
The  good  people  at  home — God  bless  them! — cannot 
realiy-e,  perhaps,  that  a  man  riding  wild  horses  and  pre- 
paring for  medical  examinations  may  yet  need  every 
hygienic  influence  to  keep  him  from  malignant  disease. 
Yet  BO  it  is;  and  1  only  blame  myself  for  not  actiug  up 
to  my  own  convictions.     The  fact  is  that  I  did  wrong  in 


LOCKED-JATv. 


139 


gcng  to  sea.  Tho  exposure  and  wear  and  tear  have 
proved  too  ™uch  for  a  eonstitution  already  enfeebled  bv 
Afnea  and  Mexico,  and  no.  the  same  Lra^eon- 
t  oil  ng  tj,rant  which  has  kept  you  so  long  a  .lave  i, 

onto      tend  hi.  eW.  over  „e.     The  ^enti.e.  t 
bu  k    .  fast  laps,„s  into  a  conn„nod  valetudinarian  > 
I  do  not  state  all  this  in  a  puling,  unmanly  .pirit 

J  end,  I  feel  that  the  naked  truth  is  a  sort  of  duty 
Mex,co,  or  .ndeed  any  other  scheme  of  life,  is  denied  me 
7™,   '"  "'"^^  »'''  'f  "y  eough  does  not  leave  me 
»ha,l  have  to  leave  hon.e  as  «„„„  as  its  blessings  Jre 
tested,  and  spend  my  winters  in  the  tropics 
"Tell  my  father-the  dear  judge,  of  whom  I  often- 
-     .an^  and  for  whom  in  vague,  spirit-y.arning 
1  t  t,on  I  often  pray-that  I  really  believe  I  behaved 

Ko  man  when  tho  Hrst  spasm  of  tetanus  seized  me. 
-■'-  y  ohaved  like  a  medical  man.  n  was  about 
■S  to  clock  „,  the  evening:  I  had  for  some  hours  had 
a  shiTness  n,  the  muscles  of  the  neck,  but  locked-jaw 
"".!"  ^''"*  -^  -'-".  -"Wonly,  a  sense  of  tight 
-  .fovery  flesh-fibro  of  my  ,„,dy  was  a  llddle-str  ng  a  d 
-0  hosts  of  devils  were  tuning  n,e  up,  came  over  ^ 

'-  >-ted  a  fraction  of  a  minute,  and  was  gone  Of 
'lK.e  foretastes  of  Tophet  I  had  four  during  the  ni^ 
;;-•<  '.-on  sho. ;  and  I  give  you  my  wU  dear  ^' 
.l.«t  I  had  no  more  hope  of  ever  seeing  home.     The.' 

;   ."    ""^■•' •"•"""•'•'•"-"'  -vi'^tion  of  inevitable  death. 
O.K.  bc.fore,  durmg  tho  shipwreck  of  tho  Fashion,  I  had 


i^J 


O 

23 


*) 


140 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


the 


.'li 


1)1 


less  dc 


This  feel 


ing  was 


9 


iiime  leeiing,  di  in  a  less  aegree.  ilus 
neither  fear,  nor  penitential  reminiscence,  nor  unprofit- 
able analysis  of  the  dreamy  after-time,  but  simple  concen- 
trated sadness.  I  thought  of  all  of  you,  including  poor 
Caona,  and  of  myself  only  as  connected  with  you. 
Once,  thinking  I  was  about  to  choke,  I  penned  a  'God 
bless  you !' — which,  as  an  instance  of  calligraphy  during  a 
tetanic  spasm,  I  enclose  for  Pat's  museum.  That  done, 
I  a  second  time  bled  myself  and  fainted,  and,  according 
to  the  shore-doctors  who  saw  me  next  morning,  saved 
my  life.  For  my  own  part,  placing  Providence  and  the 
dispensations  piimero,  I  look  upon  opium  as  my  sheet- 
anchor." 

Writing  again,  three  days  after,  in  a  spirit  of  marked 
consideration  for  the  feelings  of  his  friends  at  home,  he 
reports  himself  well  again.  In  his  own  phrase,  he  says, 
"That  remarkably  poor  devil,  your  son,  although,  in  com- 
mon with  the  weakest  and  the  strongest  of  the  race  to 
which  he  belongs,  surrounded  by  hostile  elements,  has, 
as  a  great  inherent  quality  of  his  splendid  organization, 
a  principle  of  resistance  which  almost  makes  him  think 
himself  'reserved  for  better  things.'  ....  I  lost  forty 
ounces  of  blood,  and  took  twenty-two  grains  of  opium, 
and  then,  bleached  to  the  color  of  city  milk, — a  pale 
whitewash  tinge, — got  up  to  Hiank  Heaven  for  the  pros- 
pect, however  distant,  of  seeing  again  my  very  well 
and  dearly  beloved  mother." 

The  lock-jaw,  and  the  debility  which  followed,  made 
even  a  Mediterranean  cruise  a  hard  one  to  him. 


KECUl'EKATION. 


141 


- .;.  «*, ...  „„.,  „  .:::;r;:::;' 

no  Supply  arrived  in  Norfolk  towards  the  close  of 
September.     In  October  he  was  at  bn,.o 
In  February   l^r-n    ,  '""'"^^  rt)cuperating. 

J^coiiury,  ihoO,  he  completed  lil^  ih;.r  n 

For  the  last  seven  he  hnd  /  '  •^'^''• 

withfiervf.nf   n     /  "  ^'"^'^'"^"-  ^"«  ^^"«tiny 

with  titi  j.footed  haste,  and  it  had  evaded  him  i     T 
iifl  pvor^f  o  •  ^^'"^i^uiiini!    January 

iiacl  crept  awaj  in  eventless  tranouillifv    i     i     ,   •  • 

whirlwind  h  not  recordcl      I  ''    ''"  "^  '™ 

poetry,  ,s  openly  betrayed  by  a  letter  dated 

/Miri  ,  "''^''f^r.'y,  Shout's  IIoTEr.! 

Who  ever  heard  of  Short',,  Hotel  ?    A  perfect  litfl„ 
P-  .«e.  looking  out  upon  the  Bay  of  Moli  d 

•■'"""S   a   fo,„--post   bedstead.      Destitnt,.     r 
;;''''-va,,b  or  wa.,.b.in.8,,orttt%d ':;•;' 

th,  t  ever  bung  l-,„„,   „,„  , 

-  ;.-h™„.  to  It.  beautie. .  .:::;t;:;.r 

^ '  ■'^^'»>dv,  nil  covered  with 


4;^ 


t/1 


in^ 


a 

2S 


142 


ELISIIA     KENT    KANE. 


long  gray  moss,  overhang  it  like  the  reliquary  of  a 
patriarch;  and,  save  when  the  sea-breezes  thrust  away 
the  venerable  screen,  you  would  think  yourself  looking 
"at  a  thicket  of  Cherokee  roses.  And  here,  dear  fellow, 
am  I. 

"I  wish,  dear,  sick,  working  friend,  that  you  could 
enjoy  the  climate,  which  just  at  this  moment  is  preach- 
ing to  me  its  sermon  of  thankfulness;  for  the  only 
sermons  that  now  reach  my  gizzard-plated  bowels  are 
those  of  the  dear  outer  world  of  nature.  Summer,  of  a 
perennial  but  sluggish  sort,  is  mellowing  every  thing 
around  me.     God  bless  you  ! 

"The  breeze  comes  to  me  purple-stained  with  the 
sunset,  rippling  over  the  bay  with  an  eloquent  crescendo 
of  wavelets  and  a  cadenza  of  tiny  surf  God  bless  the 
breeze,  too,  for  I  know  that  that  great  jungle  of  glaucous-' 
leafed  magnolia  (t'other  side  of  Short's)  would  stifle  me 
with  a  sirocco  of  fragrance  could  it  drive  its  perfume  to 
leeward.  Cows,  too,  have  left  their  impress, — the  specific 
mark  of  cow-some-where,  and  I  smell  a  presentiment  of 
milk  for  supper." 


For  two  years  before  this  date  the  live  world  had  been 
moved  to  its  depths  by  the  appeals  of  Lady  Franklin  for 
the  rescue  of  her  husband  and  his  companions  in  the 
search  for  the  Northwest  Passage,  of  whom  no  tidings 
had  been  heard  since  August,  1845.  She  had  addressed 
President  Taylor,  in  April,  1849,  soliciting  aid  from  our 
Government.     About  midsummer.  Sir  Francis  Beaufort 


I-ADY    FRANKLIJ^  APPEAL.  I43 

had,  on  the  authoritv  ^fTi^nr  o 

xiL/  01  rumor,  announced  to  the  Rovnl 

'  Mr.  Claytons  letter  promising  only  th-.t  "wl„t 
ever  can  be  done  to  aia  the  search  b/spreL        ..f^t 

whalers  shall  be  done,"  and  the  balance  in  praver:  Td 
yn^pat  .es.     Lad,  PVanldin,  with  that  tena  it/      pT' 

year,  mo.e  of  disappon.tment,  renewed  her  prayer  to 
General  Taylor  in  December,  1849;  and  on  the  Z 
January  he  transmitted  the  correspondence  to  Con  re" 

The  response  of  the  nation  had  been  given  with  the 

heartiest  ffood-will      T;,„  ,  ^ 

mistaken  T  J.  ^       ''*'  "^-^P^'ation  had  almost 

m   taken  Uself  for  an  accomplished   fact.     Sympathy      ' 

allan try,  national  honor,  had  combined  and  Xmed 

0^0  held   he  Goyornment  committed  to  the  enterprise 

No  one,  >„  or  out  of  the  seryice,  had  felt  the  im  ,ul 'e 

-1  asserted  the  duty  more  ardently  than  Dr.  KanT  t 

-  ..nteered  his  seryice,  pressed  his  application    m"; 

^otju,  at  JMobile,  he  wrofo  fr«  o    r  •      i       .  nr,. 

,  iit  wrote  to  a  lnend:--"Thu  Do     ri 

nent  has  giye„  my  -yoluntecr'  the  slighting  ans^r^" 
^.■ence,.eay,„gmethesimp,e.,ati.factio;ofhavin;done 


14- 


4!^ 

X 

23 


144 


ELISIIA   KENT    KANE. 


as  I  did  do.  Now,  however,  as  I  am  probably  for  months 
a  coast-survey  incumbent,  your  health,  morale,  and  every 
thing  else  lead  me  to  press  upon  you  my  invitation. 

"Come  to  me  by  the  quiet  valley  of  turbulent  waters. 
.  .  .  This  quiet  sunshine  would  not  be  uncongenial :  you 
could  stuff  alligators,  read  books,  drink  claret,  or  eat 
French  dinners,  just  as  it  pleased  you.  ...  By  the  latter 
days  of  June  we  travel  northward;  stopping  at  the 
Havana,  Charleston,  Norfolk,  and  then  journeying,  you 
and  myself,  from  Boston  to  Philadelphia  by  the  rail- 
roads." 

But,  all  unaware  of  the  fact,  he  had  reached  the  point 
which  evenly  divided  his  life  of  desperate  adventure  and 
manly  endurance  into  two  weeks  of  years  by  a  brief  Sab- 
bath of  rest, — an  isthmus  of  ease  smoothly  linking  two 
continents  of  effort,  with  the  most  massive  and  mountain- 
ous before  him :  he  had  abandoned  himself  to  his  fate  as 
his  last  disappointment  had  colored  it,  and  was  pleasantly 
relieving  its  tediousness  with  the  lyrics  of  elegant  leisure, 
when,  "in  such  an  hour  as  he  knew  not," it  sprang  upon 
him  like  a  strong  man  armed,  and  carried  him  into  the 
field  of  a  conflict  fitting  his  necessities  and  fulfilling  his 
hopes  and  his  life. 

His  "personal  narrative"  of  the  first  "United  States 
Grinnell  Expedition"  opens  in  the  tone  of  this  surprise, 
just  as  a  whirlwind  breaks  into  the  calm  of  a  tropic 
May  day :— "On  the  12th  of  May,"  he  says,  "while  bath- 
ing in  the  tepid  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  I  received 
one  of  those  courteous  little  epistles  from  Washington 


OFF    TO    THE    AECTIC. 


145 


wh.ch  the  electric  telegraph  ha.  made  so  familiar  to  na.al 
oftcer.  It  detached  me  from  the  coast-survey,  and 
ordered  me  to  'proceed  forthwith  to  New  York  for  duty 
upon  the  Arctic  Expedition.' 

"Seven  and  a  half  days  later,  I  had  accomplished  my 
overland  journey  of  thirteen  hundred  miles,  and  in  forty 
hours  more  our  squadron  was  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
tin. ted  States :  the  Department  had  calculated  my  travel- 
Img-time  to  a  nicety." 


^ 


10 


CHAPTEK  IX. 


franklin's  voyages — SEARCH-EXPEDITIONS — UNITED  STATES  GRIN- 
NELL  EXPEDITION — LIEUTENANT  DE  HAVEN — ARCTIC  ROSE-PLUCKING 
— THE  captain's  DOUBTS — THE  DOCTOR'S  DECISION — THE  PERSONAL 
NARRATIVE — HORRORS  OF  AUTHORSHIP — DIETETICS  AND  DRUGS — 
PUBLIC  LECTURING — EXPEDITIONS  OF  1852 — ESTIMATE  OF  BUTTONS 
— SECOND  VOYAGE  POSTPONED — LITTLE  WILLIE — IN  MEMORIAM — 
GRINNELL  LAND — ARROWSMITH  AND  THE  ADMIRALTY — ADJOURNED 
JUSTICE — DR.  KANE  AND   COLONEL   FORCE — COMITY  AND   EQUITY. 

Sir  John  Franklin's  first  voyage  to  the  Polar  regions 

was  made  as  lieutenant  commanding  the  Trent,  under 

Captain  Buchan,  of  the  Dorothea,  in  1818;  his  second 

was  the  great  overland  journey  with  Dr.  Richardson,  to 

the  mouth  of  the  Copper-Mine  River,  in  1819;  his  third, 

to  the  sq-me  field  of  effort,  in  1825;  and  he  sailed  for  his 

fourth  and  last  voyage  on  the  25th  of  May,  1845,  with 

a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  men  and  officers, 

in  search  of  the  Northwest  Passage  from  Baffin's  Bay  to 

the  Pacific  by  way  of  Lancaster  Sound.     His  ships,  the 

Erebus  and  Terror,  were  met  by  a  whaler  in  the  upper 

waters  of  the  bay,  moored  to  an  iceberg,  waiting  for  an 

opening  in  "  the  pack,"  on  the  26th  of  July  following : 

they  have  not  been  seen  since. 
14G 


SEAECH-EXPEDITIONS. 


147 


Early  ,„  1848,  three  expeditions  were  despatched  by 
the  Bnt,sh  Government  in  search  of  the  missing  vessels 
one,  a  marine  expedition,  by  way  of  Behring's  Strait,' 
eon.st.„g  of  the  Herald  and  Plover,  i„  command  o 
Captam  Kellett  and  Captain  Moore ;  another,  an  overland 
and  boat  party,  conducted  by  Sir  John  Richardson,  to 
descend  the  Mackenzie  River;  the  third,  two  ships,  the 
Enterprise   and   Investigator,   under  command   of  Sir 
James  Clarke  Ross,  through  Lancaster  Sound  and  Bar- 
rows  Strait.     An   admirably  devised  and  vigorously 
endeavored  plan  of  search,  but  entirely  unsuccessful 
Before  the  begmning  of  1850,  they  had  all  abandoned 
.t  without  having  reached  even  the  threshold  of  the  field 
to  be  explored. 

These  failures  only  aroused  the  sympathy  and  stimu- 
at ed  the  enthusiasm  of  England  to  endeavor  the  rescue 
of  the  long-lost  explorers.     Parliament,  in  March,  1849 
offered   a   reward   of   X2C,000   for   the   discovery   and 
effectual  rehef  of  the  missing  ships,  or  ^10,000  for  the 
discovery  and  elfectual  relief  of  any  of  the  crew  of  the 
vessels,  or  for  ascertaining  their  fate. 
Two  whale-ships  were  put  upon  the  search  in  1849  • 
ey  failed  as  badly  as  the  more  promising  expeditions 
ot  the  year  before. 

The  anxiety  and  the  effort  grew  by  these  disappoint- 
ments, ^„d,  in  1850,  England  sent  a  fleet  to  the  rescue 
-the  Enterprise  and  Investigator,  by  Behring's  Strait,' 
t  e  Resolute  and  Assistance  and  two  screw-propellers 

tile  I'loueerand  Intmnifl  b.rP„f«„'„  p.^  ,    .7      _     ' 

--x-^-;  ^v  --amna  hay,  and,  joined  to 


ai 

14- 


O 

23 


148 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


!r  ^y 


these,  the  veteran  Sir  John  Ross  went  out  in  a  schooner 
provided  by  public  subscription;  and  Lady  Franklin 
herself  equipped  two  others,  a  ship  of  two  nundred  and 
twenty-five  tons,  bearing  her  own  name,  and  a  olipper- 
brig  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons,  named  the  Sophia; 
and  still  another,  of  which  she  bore  two-thirds  pf  the 
expense, — a  schooner-rigged  craft  of  ninety  tons.  Besides 
all  this.  Dr.  Rae,  under  direction  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  undertook  the  same  year  to  complete  an  un- 
accoLiplished  part  of  the  land-exploration  of  1848,  from 
the  northern  coast  of  America.  In  all,  ten  British  vessels, 
manned  by  daringly  adventurous  crews,  commanded  by 
veteran  ice-masters,  and  carrying  a  gallant  band  of  volun- 
teers to  the  scene  of  trial  and  danger. 

Our  own  Government,  urged  by  a  generous  public 
sentiment,  and  stimulated  by  the  offer  of  two  vessels  for 
the  service  by  Mr.  Grinnell,  of  New  Fork,  went  into  the 
adventure  with  zeal  and  liberality. 

By  joint  resolution  of  the  two  houses  of  Congress, 
passed  2d  May,  1850,  the  President  was  authorized  "to 
accept  and  attach  to  the  navy  two  vessels  offered  by 
Henry  Grinnell,  Esq.,  to  be  sent  to  the  Arctic  seas  in 
search  of  Sir  John  Franklin  and  Iiis  companions.  The 
President  may  detail  from  the  navy  such  commissioned 
and  warrant  officers  and  seamen  as  may  be  necessary  for 
said  expedition,  and  who  may  be  willing  to  engage  in  it. 
The  said  officers  and  men  shall  be  furnished  with  suitable 
rations  for  a  period  not  exceeding  three  years,  and  shall 
have  the  use  of  such  necessary  instruments  as  the  Depart* 


IIEUTENANI    DE    HAVEN.  149 

Tu\ ""  ''T''"''-      ^'^^^^id;^-els.  officers,  and  men 
«     1  be  >„  a ,  ..expects  under  the  laws  and  AgulaZ 

the  vessels  shall  he  delivered  to  Henry  Grinnell      Pro 

v*d.  that  the  mUed  States  shall  not'belJeto!; 
cJaim  for  compensation   in   case  of  ih.  i         ^ 

deterioration,  use,  or  ri.k  of  tZ^J^t  '"'''  ^-'^°-' 
These  vessels  were  two  little  hermaphrodite  bri^s 

t  ^Kesr- ■:"'": '-'-'  -'  ^»^-^-  ^^ 

uit     nescue,    of  ninety-one. 

ottcer     h,s  berth   was  aboard  of  the  Advance.     Dr 
V.eeland,  ass.stant-surgeon,  was  assigned  to  the  Rescue' 
Lieutenant  De  H-iwn  ti,„  ,  rescue, 

same  kind    ,f  commander,  had  seen  the 

Z"  k'nd  of  serv.ce  as  that  now  before  him   in  the 
Wilkes  Expedition  of  1838  to  the  South  Jar  con' 

Xiri:lr  "''''"■  '  ''""'  -'-'  ^^'"^  ^  ^^* 
tte  haidiest  of  h,s  competitors  in  the  struggles  of  the 
Nor  1,  ..rn  Ocean.     In  one  of  their  joint  scrat    ami 
he  hummocks  of  Barrow's  Strau,  with  the  B^  isri' 
holdrng  their  breath  in  strained  expectancy,  h    gaJe 

;xror;r:r;ir:°^^r"*'- 
----inthebowofh-rtihetrrar: 


'',  says  of  him   and  h 


IS  men 


ill-* 

fJU 

2S 


150 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


'»  4. 


depended  alone  upon  skill  and  intrepidity,  our  go-ahead 
friends  would  have  given  us  a  hard  tussle  for  the  laurels 
to  be  won  in  the  Arctic  regions."  The  subsequent  his- 
tory of  the  American  cruisers  shows  that,  if  the  longest 
and  hardest  tussle  with  the  Arctic  ice  on  record  may 
decide,  they  really  won  the  honors  of  the  combined  expe- 
ditions of  that  year.  But,  however  the  awards  for  exer- 
tion and  endurance  may  be  distributed,  the  American 
volunteers  had  been  beforehand  in  securing  one  hand- 
some advantage  over  their  competitors  in  the  search, 
which  Osborn  states  in  this  way: — "As  a  proof  of  the 
disinterestedness  of  their  motives,  men  as  well  as  officers, 
I  was  charmed  to  hear  that,  before  sailing  from  America, 
they  had  signed  a  bond  not  to  claim,  under  any  circum- 
stances, the  £20,000  reward  the  British  Government  had 
offered  for  Franklin's  rescue :  we,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  had 
acted  differently.  America  had  plucked  a  rose  from  our 
brows."  Mercury,  chloroform,  and  proof-spirits  may 
freeze  in  the  Arctic  zone,  but  hearts  as  warm  as  these 
would  stand  the  cold  of  the  North  Pole  itself. 

The  commander  and  the  doctor  of  this  gallant  little 
crew  met  for  the  first  time  at  the  navy-yard  of  Brooklyn 
the  day  before  they  set  sail.  De  Haven  had  never  heard 
of  Kane ;  and  he  confesses  that  when  he  took  his  measure, 
as  a  captain  looks  at  the  men  he  must  depend  upon  in 
great  emergencies,  he  thought  he  was  not  the  pattern 
for  the  place.  If  he  had  had  but  the  time,  he  would 
have  asked  the  Department  to  exchange  him  for  a  more 
promising  man  j  but  that  was  impossible,  and  he  con- 


I 


THE    captain's    DOUBTS. 


161 


eluded  that  the  battereTlI^^e  body  would  have  enough 
of  It  by  the  time  they  should  reach  Greenland,  and  then 
he  could  send  him  back. 

De  Haven,  you  are  a  fine  fellow,  but  you  haven't  the 
mialhble  measure  for  men.      That  slight  figure  has  a 
preternaturaily  big  heart  in  it;   and  the  "soul,  mind 
and  sp.„t"  of  the  man   is  still  beyond  your  estimate 
though  your  admiration  for  his  manliness  now  is  as  much 
M  your  own  stout  frame  can  v,  Jl  bear 

To  sea  they  went;  and  the  trial  began.   That  inevitable 
sea,s.ckness  which  persecuted  the  doctor  like  a  demon 
laid  h.m  up  forthwith,  to  work  away  at  the  feat  of  turn! 
ing  himself  inside  out  at  every  pitch  of  the  brig 

Wha le-Fish  Island,  and,  pat  to  the  purpose  so  benevolently 
en  ertamed,  and  now,  by  the  experience  of  the  trial-trip 
0  the  Greenland  coast,  so  abundantly  justified,  De  Haven 
ound  an  English  transport,  chartered  by  the  Admiralty, 
hat  could  carry  the  completely  knocked-up  young  doct^; 
to  England  on  his  way  home;  and  he  very  kindly  but 
resolutely,  proposed  it.     All  that  was  required  was  that 
the  doctor  should  certify  his  own  unfitness  for  further 
service,  and  he  would  be  sent  home  invalided,  on  full  pav 
rank  saved,  and  all  parties  handsomely  accommodated! 
The  doctor  looked  at  him  a  moment  in  almost  btok 
dismay     There  was  a  consciousness  of  substantial  truth 
and  right  in  it;   but,  after  a  spasm  of  painful  feeling 
which  me  ted  the  captain's  very  heart,  he  turned  sud 
lenly,   and   answered,  firmly,   "I  won't  do  it."    The 


J""      I 

23 


Its 


i 


152 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


4 
M 


captain  could  not  insist,  and  a  fortnight  afterwards  the 
doctor  was  fit  for  the  hardest  duty  of  the  voyage,  and 
for  many  months  the  busiest  and  most  efficient  man  on 
board. 

His  personal  narrative  of  the  Expedition  shows  what 
a  world  of  w^ork  he  did  in  that  voyage,  the  most  remark- 
able for  risk,  adventure,  and  actual  achievement  of  that 
season  of  search.  Of  this  cruise,  styled  "The  United 
/States  Grhmcll  Expedition  in  search  of  Sir  John  Frank- 
lin," to  indicate  the  mixed  governmental  and  private 
enterprise  which  it  represented,  it  is  well  known  Dr.  Kane 
became  the  historian.  The  vessels  left  New  York  on  the 
22d  of  May,  1850,  and  returned  to  the  same  port  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1851,  a  voyage  of  sixteen  months, 
during  nine  of  them  ice-locked  and  adrift  in  a  frozen 
ocea,n. 

It  is  alike  impossible  and  unnecessary  for  us  to  follow 
the  doctor  in  his  personal  adventures  throughout  this 
period  which  he  has  himself  journalized  and  published. 
We  have  not  the  temerity  to  rehearse  or  abridge  a 
narrative  so  absolutely  perfect  in  substance,  form,  array, 
and  effect.  It  was  given  to  the  world  from  the  press  of 
the  Harpers  early  in  July,  1853,  with  the .  following 
advertisement : — "  It  may  apologize,  perhaps,  for  some 
imperfections  in  this  book,  to  mention  that  the  greater 
portion  of  it  has  gone  through  the  press  without  the 
author's  revisal.  While  lie  was  engaged  in  preparing  it, 
the  liberality  of  Mr.  Grinnell,  of  New  York,  and  Mr. 
Peabody,  of  London,  enabled  him  to  set  on  foot  a  second 


HORKOES    OP    AUTnOESHIP. 


153 


Polar  Exped:fo„,  which  .ailed  under  hi.  command  on  the 

tope,  If  h,s  t„ne  had  not  been  engrossed  by  the  nr^n^ 
rations  for  his  journey."  ^        ^^ 

This  "note"  was  by  the  gentleman  who  supervised  the 

c.o.ng  sheets  of  the  boo.  as  they  passed  LughlL 

tiof ttr, ri?  ""^  ™  ""^^•''^^'^•'  ^"'^  ^  '^^'"^  -ca- 
tion to  h  m.     There  was  nothing  in  all  the  multitudi- 

nous  and  -mensely  varied  en  .agements  of  his  life^S 

TlZ       r'  ^■^''™''^^  ""»  "^«  ''■    His  stren    h 
was  not  adequate,  and  sedentary  occupation  was  at  oL 

mlT^Hor  "'"'t""''  -""=-- '0  his  habiZ 

^eu Tol  diSr". ;;:  u  'ir  r'^ "°' "-« 

1     eu  to     aivide  himself  and  to  to  biiffpt.." 
over  an  uncon^'en;  il  inK  ti,  uuuets 

cities  over  J  ^  "'"'  "'""  o'"  '""'"'■"W  «•■'?»• 

cifes  over  this  unwonted  work.     He  «,o«a  write  a  book 

^z:r  ~ "'  ""^"'-^^ ""'  '>«  --"  '- 

"mself  to  the  multitude,  and  adjust  Iiimself  to  the  trade 

"   """'■^  ^"'-'  "-  public  sentiment  in  support  of  «,!' 

«  enterprise  of  search  and  exploration  li      J 

was  endeavoring  to  inaugurate;  but  he  could  not    on 

rainhisspiritintoaconformabloaddress.     „e  Ibrd 

s    apabdity  most  libeliously,  yet  he  felt  that  he    ou^d 

XioXrr^^ 

no  leadings  of  h,  own  nn-nd;  and  his  frionds- 
fnend«  to  who..  ..dgments  he  looked  one  nioment  with 


K0y 


DC 

S2 


154 


ELISUA  KENT    KANE. 


the  docility  of  a  child,  and  at  the  next  resisted  with  the 
temper  of  outraged  taste, — well,  it  may  be  said  in  a 
word,  they  badgered  him  till  he  escaped  into  the  field  of 
that  freer  fight  and  even  less  formidable  toil  which  he 
encountered  in  his  second  voyage  to  the  Polar  circle. 

At  one  time  during  the  early  summer  of  1852  his 
bodily  strength  fairly  broke  down  and  his  brain  well- 
nigh  gave  way.  In  diet  and  drink  he  "'^as  habitually 
abstemious;  in  labor  he  was  terribly  intense;  and  when 
his  nervous  system  broke  up  under  this  weakening  regi- 
men and  wearing  work,  and  he  apprehended  an  attack 
of  apoplexy,  paralysis,  or  some  other  form  of  cerebral 
explosion,  to  meet  the  danger  he  put  himself  under  a 
reducing  drug-treatment,  and  was  on  the  very  verge  of 
a  fatal  issue  when  he  was  arrested  by  the  advice  of  a 
friend.  Upon  a  more  generous  system  of  living,  and 
some  relaxation  of  toil  in  book-making,  he  escaped  the 
imminently  impending  catastrophe.  Add  to  all  this  a 
voluminous  correspondence  in  which  he  engaged  to  for- 
ward the  interests  of  the  second  Expedition,  and  the 
wearing  solicitude  of  preparation  for  so  great  an  enter- 
prise, and  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  his  first  expe- 
riences in  authorship. 

He  had  been  lecturing,  too,  in  the  principal  Eastern 
cities,  creating  a  public  sentiment  wherever  he  went,  and 
had  the  unfamiliar  responsibilities  of  public  speaking  to 
add  to  the  repugnant  work  of  authorship.  That  he  was 
eminently  capable  of  both,  everybody  knew  but  him- 
self; no  success  in  results,  no  unanimity  of  public  opinion. 


EXPEDITIONS   OF    1852. 


155 


wc,uld  ^ever  pe.uade  hin.  to  believe  a  word  of  it  for 

^iJ?  'r""^' '"''^''''  "^^'-J  '^  ^o^dary  and  a  subsidiary 

not  be  fi-hcd  ,„  tnne  for  starting  on  a  second  cruise  to 
tl.o  North  ,n  1852.     He  had  been  straining  every  nerve 
-:ce  h,s  return  in  the  autumn  before,  to  get  up  a  private 
expedition  for  the  ensuing   nring 

Tlie  unexpected  return  of  the  British  squadron,  and 
he  compulsory  drift  which  had  brought  the  De  Haven 
bngs  ice-Iocked  almost  to  our  own  shores  before  they 
were  released,  had  increased  the  universal  desire  to  d    e  ' 
nme  the  ,ato  of  Franklin.    The  discovery,  i„  1850  of 
;  ;""-<.;.a-tors  at  Beeehey  Island  in  XsIU  rev  Id 
the  hopes  which  had  begun  to  fade  rapidly  away,     five 
Bh.ps,  under  Sir  Edward  Belcher,  were  sen'  out  [o  renew 

r  and  and  m  consequence  of  a  report  of  the  murder  of 
Nr  John  au  his  crews  by  the  natives  of  Wolstenholme 
hound  on  the  west  coast  of  Greenland,  7C1"  N  Ladv 
i^ranUin  refitted  the  Isabel  sc.w.team^  for  the'invet 
tigation  of  this  story. 

The  field  of  search  was  to  be  explored  more  vigorously 
an  ever;  and  Dr.  Kane  panted  to  participate.  °0n  t  I 

7^1  of  May,  1852,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Gri mell -"Th! 

lette^of  Lady  Franklin  and  Miss  Cracroft      er  nice 

-vo  me  Their  views  coincide  with  my  own  am 
— d  that  an  expedition  could  be  carried  out  IZ 
I'nvate  auspices  without  feeling  the  absence  of  an  arti- 


"it 


DC 


23 


156 


ELISHA   KENT    KANE. 


^ 


ficial  discipline.  If  you  will  send  for  Penny,  I  will  act 
either  conjointly  with  him,  or  in  any  other  position  in 
which  I  can  be  of  use.  .  .  .  The  feelings  which  lead  me 
to  this  offer  forbid  the  intrusion  of  any  thought  of  tech- 
nical dignity.  He  may  have  my  buttons,  and  I  will  go 
B.BCooh.  .  .  .  The  book  will  be  done  in  the  middle  of  June: 
we  might  be  off  before  the  1st  of  July.  .  .  .  You  ought 
not,  and  are  not,  to  advance  one  cent.  The  great  tax 
upon  you  will  be  the  *  Advance.'  I  will  go  strenuously 
to  work  and  raise  the  funds,  giving  my  own  salary  as  a 
start." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  he  wrote  again : — 
"Upon  reconsidering  my  letter  of  this  morning,  it  seems 
to  me  that  if  you  knew  of  any  good,  practical  man  who 
could  act  as  sailing-master,  there  would  be  no  necessity 
for  the  delay  and  expense  of  Penny ;  and  I  could  readily 
undertake  the  exploration  proposed." 

Again,  9th  June,  1852,  he  says:— "I  am  still  too 
unwell  to  undertake  a  long  letter.  If  it  pleases  Provi- 
dence to  restore  me  to  robust  health,  I  will  gladly  form 
a  part  of  the  Behring's  Strait  expedition,  should  the 
*  Advance'  join  Lady  Franklin's  steamer.  My  judgment, 
however,  is  averse  to  the  plan." 

He  did  not  get  off  that  season.  His  efforts  through 
the  winter  and  spring  to  accomplish  this  wish  were  dis- 
appointed :  his  offers,  unreserved  as  they  were,  were  not 
accepted.  The  book  was  not  finished  in  June.  His 
health  had  badly  fiiiled  him;  and  in  June,  when  it 
was  tolerably  re-established,  another  task  absorbed  his 


LITTLE    WILLIE. 


157 


thoughts,  feelings,   anl^^^^^T^.^^^  ^11  th. 

months  of  the  year.  '""""^^^ 

His  brother,  Utile  Wilh'e  a  lad  nf  fir. 
in  the  snrino.  .p  ^-  of  fifteen,  was  taken  ill 

bore  it  he:  iet^^-  ^:,:ir' '°'" '"'  ™^'  »^ 

parens.  0.  p4  h!^;:  rixr^r  I?  ^":  * 

-  well  as  you  bore  your  lock  Hwr    '  ,f'  '  ^'"'  *''* 
hesaid,  "lamnrptf  ''""'■'''"'■      ^t  another  time 

all  the  .ood  lr\        °"  "'*'  "^  ™"'^'^^  -'-«ns 

ri.Ht:rr:rtre:t:T::i"^--^^-<-^e 

-Hneveryparlor/JtiXS^rlVt't""' 
to  me  you  must  tell  me.     Do^,  l^VrSni  h"''" 

Natural  affection,  brother-love,  symnathv  f         . 
sufferino-  werp  nn+  ^i         i  ^^"^Pathy  for  extreme 

«very  other  onffan-ement    .„^  ,.       "S&1«  lasted, 

solicitude:  Willelddll  tl"'":      '  '''''  "'"^^ 
personal  worthiness.  "^     '  '"'''''^"''^'"  <"-■»  "^ 

No  falsities  of  faahinn    o„   <• 
intrude  nt  tt,  .  ,,  "^  '^^''^  Permitted   to 

mt'ude  at  that  brave  boy's  funeral.     Th  re  were  n! 
'^^C/'-mourners  there:  strangers  to  his  blood  1^ 

'"'"•   "•''™«''   ar'   equality  „f   „,,f    ^Z.   J         7 
shared  it.  ^  "^   "^^«®   who 

It  was  not  mere  vrccnn{t^r  «p  ^.,.„.  . 

X     — --v  -  -^vciopmeiit,  nor  childish 


a. 


■!■'  ki 


158 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


«L. 


sweetness  of  person  and  temper,  which  gave  WiUie  his 
place  in  our  hearts  and  holds  him  still  in  their  memo- 
ries. That  youngest  of  the  family  bade  fairly  and  surely, 
we  thought,  to  rank  with  the  eldest  in  all  generous  and 
noble  achievements, — in  another  sphere  of  life,  indeed, 
but  not  less  excellent  or  beneficent. 

Willie  was  neither  the  copy  nor  the  contrast  of  Elisha. 
They  were  unlike  enough  to  love  each  other  like  brother 
and  sister ;  they  were  like  enough  for  all  the  reciproci- 
ties of  friendship.  Tears  sadly  sweet  for  our  loss  in  the 
early  death  of  Willie ;  solemn  exultation  over  the  nobly 
completed  life  of  Elisha.  .  .  . 

It  seomed,  while  we  looked  at  their  mother,  as  she 
stood,  in  the  composure  of  a  great  grief  ruled  by  a  strong 
spirit,  at  the  margin  of  her  child's  grave,  that  there  was 
one  consolation  for  her  in  his  premature  death: — He 
would  never  go  away,  out  of  her  arms,  away  into  the 
world.  She  had  now  one  child  safe  in  heaven, — a  child 
unchanging  to  her  until  her  own  change  should  come. 
Since  then  the  wandering  one  has  returned,  and  they 
rest  together.  Maternal  solicitude  is  released  from  its 
painful  vigils,  and  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  hope  the 
mother  sits  now  by  their  tomb  as  once  she  watched  by 
their  cradle  for  their  gladsome  waking. 

I  would  not  have  ventured  to  speak  of  this  sweetly  sad 
episode  in  the  epic  of  Elisha's  life,  if  his  portraiture 
could  have  been  completed  without  ii.  Those  who  know 
him  only  as  a  hero  may  herd  him  with  the  crowd  who 
have  in  Iheir  thousand  ways  worked  their  names  into 


GEINMEtL    LAND. 


159 


h.  tory,_,„e„  of  blood  or  naen  of  brai„s,-»en  of  chi 
valnc  sp,„t  and  distinguished  achieveme;*,  whom  fat 
ampl,  ..epa,s  for  all  they  give  or  have  to  givHoI 

notonety  had  a  heart  and  a  soul  i„  hi„._all  nerve  to 
the  demands  of  dutv   h„f    •     ^i      , 
sense  .11  t»  /  .        '        "'"  '^"'P'^^'  ^-xJ  dearest 

ens  ,  all  tenderness,  devotion,  and  tact  in  the  offices  of 
affection  and  the  services  of  suffering  humanl      I 
™ay  seem  strange,  but  it  is  true,  that°he  ITtonce  a 
ma.  a  woman,  and  a  child  to  those  who  coul     ~ 
.n  full  communion  the  life  he  had  to  give  them 

notabandoned,_enga.ed  him  T'l     ^^     ^  '"'   P"°'^' 
the  task  of  defending  DeH  ™""'"  °""'"  """S^' 

of  the  Grinnel    r     .        ,  "'  P"°"'^  "''  <l'«™™ry 

can  ot  L  ,1  "  '"^'  "'  '^^"'"="'°»  «<"--> 

disn-W   It  ::  "  "°  "''^™  '^'^y  ''  *ould,  be 

^'SftUibea,  tnat  our  "frienrllv  nli,-^.,"  •     ^i 

T?      ,  ,.  iiii^nuiy  callies    in  the  senroh  fr^r^ 

Frankhn  did  not  behave  handsomely,  nor  fa  !    n 

At  IS  (ill  settled  now  riiihtlv  h„f  ,v 

fnii      r       ,  "g^^'y^  but  It  was  not  done  irrapp 

2^^  the   Wds-Commissioners  of  the  British  Ad! 

tarv'drir'  V::  "°^"'^™"-'  Poi„t  of  his  involun. 
'   ^  ''•■ft  "P  Welhngton  Channel,  did,  on  the  22d    f 

Seje^bisao.  discover  land  e.;endi;,g;rrK";. 

^^•iN.i^.  of  his  position,  to  which  h^  ..o,,.  .,...  .. 

-  -i-    b^^^t  tiiu  name  of 


O 


160 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


Grinnell.  On  the  4th  of  October,  1851,  immediately 
after  his  return,  he  made  his  official  report,  claiming  this 
discovery,  backed  by  all  the  evidence  that  could  be 
-equired  to  establish  the  claim ;  and  the  newspapers  of 
the  day  carried  the  announcement  to  England,  along 
with  the  earliest  intelligence  of  the  safe  return  of  the 
gallant  and  generous  crews  who  had  gone  upon  the 
search  at  their  own  country's  expense  and  under  a  pledge 
to  decline  the  reward  which  had  been  offered  by  Parlia- 
ment to  induce  the  endeavor. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1851,  eight  months  aftei   the 
discovery  of  De  Haven,  the   same   land  was  seen  by 
Captain  Penny,  of  the  English  squadron.      He  knew 
nothing  at  that  time  of  De  Haven's  ascent  of  the  channel 
in  the  preceding  September,  and  in  ignorance  of  that 
fact   named   it  "Albert   Land,"  in  compliment   to   his 
Royal  Highness.     This  name,  thus  excluding  the  Ameri- 
can discovery,  appeared  on  the  map  of  the  Hydrographic 
Office  published  in  September,  1851,  andin  Arrowsmith's 
map  of  "  Discoveries  in  the  Arctic  Sea,"  dated  21st  of 
October,  1851,  but  not  published  for  several  weeks  after 
wards, — for  some  of  the  discoveries  of  Dr.  Rae,  which  were 
not  announced  to  the  Admiralty  till  the  10th  of  Novem- 
ber, appear  on  it. 

It  is  probable,  as  well  as  possible,,  that  the  Hydro- 
graphic  Office  map  of  September,  1851,  was  innocent  of 
any  information  of  De  Haven's  discovery;  but  Arrow- 
smith's  loses  all  right  to  a  respectful  construction,  not 
merely  by  the  fact  that  it  was  not  issued  until  after  news 


[lediately 
ning  this 
could  be 
Dapers  of 
d,  along 
•n  of  i;he 
pon  the 
a  pledge 
Y  Parlia- 

iftei   the 

seen  by 

[e  knew 

channel 

of  that 
;  to  his 
i  Ameri- 
Dgraphic 
^smith's 

21st  of 
ks  after 
ich  were 
Novem- 

Hydro- 
ocent  of 

Arrow- 
ion,  not 
er  news 


o; 

23 


i 


■%. 


*w. 


3 

(/>      lill 


r 
J     ■< 


Ml 

X.' 


4>  ■<■■•, 

o 

2S 


<!' 


AHR01VS.VIT.^^ANDJ^E    ADM.BALly.         161 

Of  De  Haven's  di^ov^^i^;;;^,^,  reached  England 
"t  b,  the  fact,  open  on  the  face  of  the  doc„„.ent  that 
Mr.  Arrows»ith,  sitting  in  his  office  at  No.  10  Soho 
Square  London,  did,  Iun.se,f,  then  and  there,  discover 
Albert  Land,  nunc  pro  tunc,  on  the  26th  of  August  1850 
.honor  of  Wnee  Albert's  birthday,  and  in"  di  2 
d.cred.t  of  De  Haven's  discover,,  „.ade,  in  latitude 

No  10  S  r' '""^""'^^  ''^-'  93*°  ^^-  of  the  position  of 
No.  10  Soho  Square,  twenty-seven  days  true  time  after  the 
computed  fame  of  Mr.  Arrowsmith's  map 

But,  If  both  these  unwarranted  claims  are  to  be  over- 
looked in  the  complaint  which  we  make,  the  Hydrl 

Apnl,  1852,  stands  f„lly  exposed  to  the  charge  of  insist- 
">g  upon  an  unwarranted  assumption.     This  document 
-ued  so  long  after  De  Haven's  report  was  pubirhed 
which  was  entitled,  under  any  circumstances,  to  greate 
consideration,  and,  in  the  peculiar  relations  of  the  parties 

::;;  f  ^™^"»-^  »«'-y  besides,  cannot  claim  the' 
.ame  forbearance.      This  map  of  "Discoveries  in  the 

At  of  Parliament,  at  the  Hydrographical  Office  of  the 
Admiralty,   April   8,   1852,"    reasserted   the  name 

Albert  Land'  for  that  tract  of  country  which  the  Grin- 
-11  Expedition  had  discovered  and  claimed  by  naming 

^Hifrththir- ''''  ^— '^^  "^^  ^-•■^- . 

Here  was  an  involvement,  with  an  impeachment  lyin, 
"«'er  It;  and  Lieutenant  De  Haven,  commanding  th: 


162 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


U't 


"Advance,"  Mr.  Griffin,  commanding  the  "Rescue,"  and 
Dr.  Kane,  the  historian  of  the  cruise,  were  all  committed 
for  the  vindication  of  their  personal  credit  and  the  honor 
of  the  service  to  which  they  belonged. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  called  uiDon  Dr.  Kane  for 
a  statement  of  the  facts  by  which  the  discovery  was 
supported;  and  he  made,  also,  an  official  call  upon  Lieu- 
tenant De  Haven  for  a  report.     Dr.  Kane  replied  under 
date  of  28th  of  December,  1852.     The  Secretary  sent 
De  Haven's   chart  to  the   Admiralty   on   the   12th   of 
January,  1853,  which  was  received  on  the  31st  of  the 
same  month.     The  I-ords-Commissioners,  on  the  1st  of 
March,    replied   that    "the  whole  Wellington  Channel 
will  no  doubt  be  materially  changed  by  Captain  Sir  E. 
Belchers  observations:  it  would   be  better  to  let  this 
matter  remain  in  abeyance  until  his  return,  when  it  will 
be  their  lordships'  fuvst  duty  to  do  the  fullest  justice  to 
the  enterprising  efforts  of  Lieutenant  De  Haven  and  to 
the  noble  liberality  of  Mr.  Grinnell." 

Moreover,  the  Admiralty  had  received  "an  engraved 
sketcii  of  the  region  round  the  Wellington  Channel;  and 
a  tracing  of  the  Grinnell  vessels'  tracks  up  that  channel 
nearly  to  75i°  north  latitude,"  forwarded  from  2^ow 
York  on  the  18th  of  November,  iSn,  which  was  hud 
before  the  board  by  their  hydrographer,  Sir  F.  Beaufort, 
as  appears  by  his  acknowledgment  oearing  date  the  5tli 
of  December. 

Well,  Sir  E.  Belcher,  returning  from  his  tour  of  explo- 
ration at  the  head  of  Wellington  Cliamiel,  landed  in 


i 


ADJOURNED    JUSTICE. 


163 


England  on  the  28th  of  September,  1854;  and  Sir  F 
Beaufort,  Eear-Admiral  and  Il.drographer  of  the  Admi- 
ralty,  wntn,g  to  Mr,  Grinnell  on  the  24th  of  January, 
1800,  sa3.  "On  carefully  comparing  all  the  logs  and 
journal,  of  Captain  Austin's  squadron,  it  is  ma,:ifestly 
..npossible  that  any  of  his  vessels  could  hn,ve  seen  thai 

Haven!"  ^'"  """  '"   '^''""'"''^  ^^  ^^P*'''"  ^ 

T.  ese  logs  of  Austin's  squadron  had  been  in  the  pes- 

r  r : ,?  "^''""""^  ^^^^  ^'°-  *«  -"-"  of  is'i. 

ar  E,^  Belcher  had  discovered  no  inaccuracies  in  De 
lavens  report  which  could  touch  his  pretensions;  and 
the  grace  of  crediting  him  and  hi.  officers  was  finally 
conceded  not  to  their  claim,  but  to  the  manifest  impos- 
sibdUy  of  discrediting  it  after  four  years  of  incredulous 
scrutiny. 

Had  it  been  earlier  it  had  been  mor*  courteous.  The 
British  chum  was  from  the  first,  as  Dr.  Kane  held  it  in 
a  etter  to  Mr.  Grinnell,  dated  May  10,  1852,  '-utterly 
.ndefe„s,ble."  There  were  but  two  questions  in  tl'e 
c™troversy :  one  touching  the  capacity  of  the  American 
officers  to  observe  and  understand  what  they  saw,  the 
"t'«;.  affi.ct,ng  their  veracity  in  reporting  it.  The  con- 
cession  was  not  made  to  either  claim. 

The  substance  of  Dr.  Kane's  demolishing  argument 
agamst  the  English  assumption,  made  for  theuse  of  the 
Navy  Department,  is  reproduced  in  the  twenty-fifth 
chapter  of  his  Personal  Narrative  of  the  First  Grinnell 
I'^xpedition.     Lieutenant  Do  Haven's  official  report  is  iu 


^3 


■  ■it  ^ 

cue 


164 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


the  Appendix  of  the  same  volume,  p.  494.  Colonel 
Peter  Force,  of  Washington  City,  during  this  period  of 
long-delayed  justice,  or,  rather,  the  adjourned  question 
of  our  squadron's  honor,  brought  to  the  rescue  of  his 
countrymen's  claims  the  great  resources  and  ample 
powers  in  his  possession,  and,  in  a  series  of  papers  dis- 
tinguished for  their  frankly  severe  criticism,  completely 
established  the  De  Haven  discovery. 

Even  when  Dr.  Kane  sailed  for  the  North  on  the  31st 
of  May,  1853,  he  seems  to  have  felt  no  assurance  that 
the  honor  of  the  Grinnell  Lan-I  discovery  at  the  head 
of  Wellington  Channel  would  ever  be  frankly  conceded 
to  De  Haven  by  the  Lords-Commissioners;  for  this,  to 
our  understanding,  is  the  clear  meaning  of  one  paragraph 
of  his  letter  to  Mr.  Kennedy,  written  before  he  landed  at 
New  York  on  his  return.  He  says, "  I  have  a  Grinnell  Land 
now  which  any  one  is  welcome  to  take  who  reaches  it." 

The  now  in  this  sentence  is  underscored  in  the  autograph 
letter.  The  emphasis  upon  the  word  "  take"  is  referred  to 
the  judgment  of  the  readers  of  this  brief  narrative  of  the 
affair,  with  great  confidence  that  there  is  no  danger  of 
its  being  put  on  too  heavily.  Dr.  Kane  had  put  the 
name  of  Grinnell  on  a  newly-discovered  coast  so  near 
the  Pole  that  his  priority  was  not  likely  to  be  disputed. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  quoting  the  same  letter, — from  me- 
mory doubtless,-~makes  the  doctor  say,  "I  liave  found 
another  Grinnell  Land,  which  any  man  is  welcome  to 
who  will  go  after  it."  Anofher  Grinnell  Land,  with- 
out any  difference  of  name  to  distinguish  it  on  the  map 


COMITY    AND    EQUITY. 


165 


of  the  Polar  region,  and  requiring  a  periphrase  to  deter- 
mine Its  locality  every  time  it  must  be  used !  No  :  Dr. 
Kane  did  not  know  or  believe  that  he  had  two ;  eine  he 
would  have  ear-marked  them  better,  to  prevent  confusion 
in  his  nomenclature. 

Believing  that  Dr.  Kane's  characteristic  forbearance 
m  the  management  of  this  controversy  cannot  rightfully 
be  construed  into  any  thing  hke  satisfaction  with  the 
conduct  of  the  Lords-Commissioners,  we  have  conscien- 
tiously endeavored  to  vindicate  the   truth  of  history, 
leaving   the   international   comities   of  kindred   blood' 
language,  and  Anglo-Saxon  partnership  in  the  patrona^re 
of  our  planet  to  take  care  of  themselves,  under  correction 
of  even-handed  justice  to  the  "high  contracting  parties" 
and  "the  rest  of  mankind." 


»  imm, 

Ci£. 
O 


CHAPTER  X. 

MR.  KENNEDY'S  ALACRITY— SYMPATHY  OF  THE  SAVANS— CONFIDENCE 
STRENGTHENED— EXCITING  THE  OFFICIALS— HOPES  ON  A  SEE-SAW— 
DRUDGERY  OF  BORING— KENNEDY  CHANNEL— CASH  CONTRIBUTIONS— 
LECTURING-BUSINESF— MR.  PEABODY  — DEFICIENCIES  OF  OUTFIT- 
LABORIOUS  PREPARATIONS— PATRIOTIC  ENTHUSIASM— THE  HONORS 
IN  DANGER— RACE  AGAINST  TIME— ADMIRALTY  CHART— A  TIME 
TO  BE  SICK— DAILY  PRAYERS— CHRISTIAN  HEROISM— SPECIAL  PRO- 
VIDENCE—WORSHIP AMONG  THE  HUMMOCKS— VINDICATION  OP 
rAITH— "HOW  READEST  THOU  ?"— SAVING  FAITH. 

From  this  parenthesis  of  impatience  with  the  Lords- 
Commissioners  in  the  matter  of  Grinnell  Land— for 
which,  be  it  understood,  Dr.  Kane  is  in  no  wise  respon- 
sible^'—we  return  to  his  unremitting  labors  throuoh  the 


*  In  a  letter  dated  May  17,  1853,  ia  which  he  mentions  several  pro- 
eents,  valuable  for  service  in  the  Arctic  regions,  froiK  Sir  F.  Beaufort, 
Captain  McClintock,  Captain  Inglefield,  Mr.  Barrow,  and  the  Admiralty,— 
tetters  to  him  from  Parry,  Ro.ss,  and  Sabine,  containing  helpful  sugges- 
tions for  his  Expedition,  and  other  letters  from  Captains  Penny  and 
Kennedy,  in  purpose  and  matter  friendly  and  useful,  he  says  :— 

"It  will  gratify  you  to  see  my  letters  from  Sir  F.  Beaufort  and  others 

of  Arctic  reputation  across  the  water.     To  me  England  has  always  been 

«  seat  of  sympathy  and  pride;  and  I  am  -lad  that  I  never  permitted 
1G6  ^ 


MR.    KENNEDY'S    ALACRITY. 


167 


winter  of  1852-53  in  the  wearing  work  of  getting  up 
the  expedition  of  the  ensuing  spring. 

In  a  personal  interview  with  the^Honorable  John  P 
Kennedy,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  he  unfolded  the  plan 
and  purposes  of  his  second  Polar  voyage.   Mr.  Kennedy- 
perceiving  that,  with  all  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Grinnell 
and  Mr.  Peabody,  the  outfit  would  be  very  limited,  and 
beheving  that  he  could  aid  it  by  some  valuable  additions 
through  the  ordinary  means  of  the  Navy  Department- 
suggested  to  the  doctor  that  he  would  issue  an  order  to 
place  him  on  "special  duty"  with  reference  to  the  Expe 
dition,  and  direct  him  to  report  to  the  Department     This 
enabled  the  Secretary  t.  increase  his  pay  to  the  "duty 
rate,"  and  to  add  many  focilities  for  His  voyage,  besides 
giving  the  Expedition  something  of  the  advantages  of  a 
Government  connection,  which  might  serve  a  good  pur- 
pose   m  Its   prospective   necessities.       This   order   was 
accordmgly  issued  on  the  27th  of  November,  1852-  and 
when  the  time  came,  ten  men  belonging  to  the 'navy 
were  attached  to  the  doctor's  command,  under  Government 

^yself  to  use  au  uucourteous  expression  in  eonnection  witii  'Grinnell 

"I  hope  you  will  not  think  me  sclf-adulatorj  when  I  say  that  my  loc 
turcs  and  scientific  papers  have  been  of  practical  service  in  giving  our  Ex. 
pedU.on  character  among  those  whose  opinions  are  calculated  to  advance 
>t.  per., , a.  a  reputation.  Everv  thing  seems  to  point  to  a  prosperous 
commenuan.oat;  making  It  only  the  more  incumbent  upon  us,  as  Amen- 
cans  and  men,  to  sustain  the  expectations  of  those  who  are  watching  our 
^•ourse      On  this  head  I  feel  gravely  my  respoasibility." 


^•^t 


O 


168 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


4* 


pay.     Apparatus  from  the  Medical  Bureau,  "rations  and 
commutations"   for   the  volunteers   detached   from  the 
navy,  and  such  other  necessaries  for  the  voyage  were 
added  as  were  within  the  Secretary's  very  liberal  con- 
struction of  his  powers.     And  to  these  helps  the  Smith- 
sonian Institute  and  the  National  Observatory  contributed 
liberally  for  scientific  purposes.     Professors  Henry  and 
Bache,  and  Lieutenant  Maury  were  alike  zealous  in  yield- 
ing whatever  of  assistance  was  in  their  power  to  bestow. 
With  an  appropriation  from  Congress  the  Expedition 
could  have  been  made  much  more  effectual,  and  much 
suflering  might  have  been  avoided;  but  the  hope  of  such 
aid  was  so  slight  that  it  was  believed  to  be  almost  useless 
to  appi}  for  it. 

The  gentlemen  just  named,  who  are  respectively  at 
the  head  of  the  oxnithsonian  Institute,  the  Coast  Survey, 
and  the  Observatory,  joined  in  a  formal  and  ably-argued 
application  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Department,  warmly  commending  iiim  for 
the  zeal  he  had  already  displayed  by  his  orders  in  behalf 
of  the  enterprise,  approving  its  objects,  and  as  warmly 
endorsing  Dr.  Kane's  "  peculiar  qualities  as  an  explorer, 
and  his  varied  resources  of  knowledge,  exhibited,  as  they 
had  been,  in  his  contributions  to  the  De  Haven  Expedi- 
tion," which,  they  said,  "  point  him  out  as  eminently  fitted 
for  the  task  which  he  proposes  to  undertake  under  your 
auspices." 

In  November  he  received  the  intelligence  of  Captain 
Inglefield's  reported  discoveries  in  Smith's  Sound,— the 


CONFIDENCE    STRENGTHENED.  169 

track  of  his   own  pro^i^^^^T^^^^eh.     I„  August  that 
officer  h«J  entered  the  Sound  and  seen  a  great  open  sea 
cumbered  more  or  less  with  loose  ice,  and  picturesquei; 
fumashed  with  an  island  in  the  distance,  t.  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Louis  Napoleon. 

This  peep  into  the  "great  Polar  basin"  was  performed 
n  the  space  of  a  few  hours,  in  a  heavy  gale  which  blew 

tT      Tn        *''  '"""'■     ''  --'  ^--er,  duly 
harted.  and  Dr.  Kane,.ceived  it  as  "an  entire confirma^ 
t|on  of  the  soundness  of  his  plan  of  search,"  and  expected 
thatrtwouldprobably  cause  Lady  Franklin  to  add  herlittle 
steamer,  the  "  Isabel,"  to  his  party  in  the  following  spring. 
..deed    he  says,  "  every  thing  points  to  a  successful  res: 
lution  of  the  much-vexed  question  of  an  open  Polar  sea  " 
I"  «- -ent  the  "Isabel"  did  not  join  his  party,  and 
IngleHeld  s  sea  was  so  tight  under  ice  when  .he  "Advice" 
entered  it  the  next  year,  that  she  was  stopped  by  it;  and 
the  same  ice  is  round  her  still." 
Two  years  of  careful  observation  of  that  region  resolved 
he  .sland  into  a  mistak..  „.d  the  coast-lines,  longitude 
tees,  and  open  sea  of  Inglefield  went  into  the  lis 
01  "illusory  discoveries." 

Lecturing  and  hook-writing  went  on  through  the  win- 
ter, amid  the  racking  toil  and  anxiety  of  preparation  for 
an  early  start  for  the  North. 

A  hope  of  Congressional  aid-one  of  those  hopes  that 
2  ^".  of  want  to  die  of  fatigue,  or,  rather,  the  con- 
s  .entious  duty  of  endeavoring  to  secure  it-cost  weeks 
ot  incessant  labor. 


IJU 


*«i 


O 

23 


170 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


Of  one  of  those  weeks,  ending  the  30th  of  January, 
he  gives,  in  brief,  this  account ; — "  In  order  to  excite  an 
interest,  I  accepted  an  invitation,  hastily  given  by  Pro- 
fessor Henry,  to  lecture  at  the  Smithsonian,  and  invited 
thereto  the  Senate  Committee  and  Heads  of  Departments. 
I  gave  them  a  full  exposition  of  our  plans,  state  of  organi- 
zation, and  requirements.  The  Secretary  (of  the  Navy) 
was  present. 

"I  have  not  hesitated  to  call  personally  on  any  mem- 
ber of  either  House  whose  interest  was  of  peculiar 
importance ;  and  all  this,  together  with  the  task  of  draw- 
ing up  requisitions,  &c.  &c.,  has  completely  used  me  up. 
1  have  not  averaged  more  than  three  hours'  sleep  a  night 
since  I  left." 

It  seems  that  he  obtained  a  promise  from  the  proper 
parties  to  append  a  grant  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  for 
the  use  of  his  Expedition,  to  the  General  Appropriation 
bill.  He  adds  to  the  statement  the  ominous  remark  that 
"this  will  require  more  work." 

The  issue  appears  in  his  record  of  another  week's 
work  in  April,  after  Mr.  Kennedy  had  gone  out  with  the 
Fillmore  administration  and  Secretary  Dobbin  had  come 
in  with  General  Pierce : — 

April  7th,  by  telegraph  :  "Things  look  black." 

8th  :  "  Still  seeing  Senators." 

11th:  "Every  thing  that  my  poor  efforts  could  do  is 
now  done;  and  I  anxiously  wait  an  answer." 

"General  Pierce  favored  me  with  a  private  interview 
yesterday  at  9  a.m.      I  talked  nearly  one  hour,  and  lie 


DRUDGERY    OF    BORING. 


171 


ments.     To  this  Ww  T        •      ,    '"®  ^^^sident  s  senti- 

letters  enough  to  ca.,  Com.TlZ-''  '  """^" 

11th,  by  telegraph :  « A  bare  ghost  of  a  chance  " 
Same  day,  by  letter:  "I  have  completed  a  Z 

mentative  paper    bv  Mr  n  i,k-        ^  ''""'  *  '™g  "''gi- 

matter  in  the  1  Lt  of       ^r  "^""''  P''"''"^  the 

n  light  of  a  py^,^^  obligation."     And  afte. 

ta,  „g  a     ost  of  auxiliary  efTorl.  and  a^enci  em 
P  oyed,  by  which  he  left  no  stone  unturned  1^1  2 
have  a  worm  under  it,  the  .entle.an  breaks  out  a.  Ih 
a  critical  sweat «  All  +i  •    •  '       ^^"" 

The  sum  total  of  Government  h^lr.  •     • 
in  a  .etter  to  Mr.  Kenned"^    ~  "^^^^^^ 
successor,  Mr  Dohhm   ).no    •  '' ""^  ^^^^J '— 'Your 

whilo  ;+    u        T  ^^orK,— an  assurance  which 

"dd  to  :t,  at  least  enables  Mr.  Grinnell  and  myself  to 
-gn-  you  alone  as  the  centre  of  obligation.  Tfe^ 

2      T  "  '  "'"'  '  '='^""»'  ''"t  f-1  that  my  little  p't' 
belongs  to  another  Administration;  and  I  hope  ta  ;! 


s 


VI 


^.o*^* 


172 


ELISIIA   KEXT    KANE. 


tj 


will  not  be  bored  if  I  show  my  recognition  of  your  per- 
sonal agency  by  a  regular  bulletin  from  the  land  of  ice." 

"Kennedy  Channel,"  connecting  the  Arctic  ring  of 
perpetual  ice  with  the  open  sea  near  the  Pole,  is  the 
appropriate  fulfilment  of  this  purpose. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  doctor  was  decided 
against  a  "strictly  naval  expedition."  His  strenuous 
but  unavailing  endeavor  to  secure  for  the  private  one 
which  he  conducted  every  needed  assistance  from  the 
Government  acquits  him  of  responsibility  for  the  defi- 
ciencies of  outfit  which  he  could  not,  by  all  the  efforts  in 
his  power,  prevent. 

His  personal  contributions  to  ^^  ^  expense-fund  cannot 
be  given;  but  we  know  that  he  oted  at  least  twenty 
months  of  unremitting  toil,  his  o.vn  pay,  (which  must 
have  been  about  three  thousand  dollars,)  and  the  proceeds 
of  the  lectures  which  he  delivered  through  the  winters 
of  1852  and  1853  in  the  Atlantic  cities.  We  have  the 
evidence  of  one  item  only, — the  amount  thus  raised  in 
Boston.  Writing  to  Mr.  Grinnell,  26th  of  February, 
1853,  he  says,  "Mr.  George  R.  Russell,  of  Boston,  for- 
warded to  me  the  funds  resulting  from  my  Boston  visit. 
These  I  have  deposited  in  the  Farmers'  and  Mechanics' 
Bank,  and,  as  soon  as  I  get  time  to  run  over  the  accounts, 
will  send  you.  a  check  for  the  amount.  I  wish  I  could 
afford  to  give  my  travelling-expenses  j  but  I  am  so  out  of 
pocket  already  with  my  perambulations,  that,  in  the  case 
of  Boston,  I  had  to  charge  them.  These,  however,  refer 
only  to  such  as  are  absolutely  incidental  to  my  object. 


I 


LECTUEING-BUSIITESS. 


173 


Incuclmg  the  several  su„«  of  $78  75  and  |58  re- 
ocvecl  from  New  Bedford,  and  those  added  to  my  LnZ 
in  Boston,  the  gross  sum  is  somewhere  about  |I400  " 
mule  at  Boston  the  lecturing-business  gets  this  charac- 

c™,ctonch:     "ThefundwhiehlsoughUoraisewZ 
ha>dly    or  I  wdl  not  accept  personal  contributions   as  I 

circulated  by  the  first  men,  inviting  me  to  lecture-  and 
by  the  aul  of  the  ladies,  all  the  best  of  whom 7  havt 
pressed  :nto  th.  service,  I  hope  to  succeed.     Every! 
.the  scene  of  some  rival  attraction,  and  I  have  to  do  aU 
I  can  to  distance  my  rivals,-Blitz,  Alboni,  and  Emer  o„ 
we  are  all  of  one  feather.     No  matter  .so  thaH    "t 
my  money,  I  do  not  care."  ^  * 

The  amount  of  his  gatherings  from  all  quarters  we 

purse   efore  sailing,  and  especially  after  his  return,  when 

mo„ey  """""  '''""'"^  "^^  -*>•  ""^-d-'oe  of 

Mr.  Peabody,  an  American  gentleman  residing  in  Lon- 

l:  Mr"r  'T  ""^'  ^^'^ '" '-  «'— 

Sm  hs%  .  r  '"''  *'"  '"S  ^'^'''•^  ^-  left  in 
Smith  s  Sound,  and  how  much  besides  we  know  not-  the 

«t.tution,  the  American  Philosophical  Society  and  a 
n^^r  of  scientific  associations  and  friends  o'f'  ^: 
tes.de,  came  forward  to  help  him:  but  we  have  some 

«s  for  the  belief  that  there  wane  larger  cZlZ! 


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174 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


tributor,  first  and  last,  to  the  Expedition,  than  Dr.  Kane 
himself,~if  the  funds  raised  by  his  own  labor  may  be  as 
fairly  credited  to  him  as  to  the  parties  from  whom  iney 
were  received.  And  we  think  they  may;  for  the  pro- 
ceeds of  his  lectures  were  justly  his  own,  and  the  larger 
part  even  of  his  travelling-expenses  came  from  his  own 
pocket. 

If  he  had  failed,  either  in  labor  or  sacrifice,  in  prepara- 
tion for  this  voyage,  all  the  reputation  he  has  won  for 
courage,  endurance,  and  achievement  would  not  shelter 
him  from  censure  for  recklessness  and  the  suspicion  of  a 
selfish  ambition.  But  can  the  most  exacting  spirit  ask 
more  from  mortal  man  than  he  did  to  insure  the  good 
fortune  of  his  great  adventure  ? 

He  speaks  to  the  point  in  his  own  way,  (Second  Grin- 
nell  Expedition,  vol.  i.  p.  25 :)  "  No  one  can  know  so 
Wdll  as  an  Arctic  voyager  the  value  of  foresight.  My 
conscience  has  often  called  for  the  exercise  of  it,  but  my 
habits  make  it  an  effort.  I  can  hardly  claim  to  be  provi- 
dent, either  by  impulse  or  education.  Yet  for  some  of 
the  deficiencies  of  our  outfit  I  ought  not,  perhaps,  to 
hold  myself  responsible.  Our  stock  of  fresh  meats  was 
too  small,  and  we  had  no  preserved  vegetables :  but  my 
personal  means  were  limited;  and  I  could  not  press  more 
severely  than  a  strict  necessity  exacted  upon  the  unques- 
tioning liberality  of  my  friends." 

Every  word  of  this  apologetic  sentence  is  entitled  to 
its  utmost  weight,  except  the  generous-spirited  ex'ggera- 
tion  of  his  improvidence.     A  mountain  of  letters  before 


LABORIOUS    PREPAR     riONS. 


176 


-fi';. 


me,  written  during  the  last  months  of  preparation  for 
the  voyage    prove  an  amount  of  foresight,  provident 
care,  and  thoughtful  solicitude  and  labor  which  would 
do  honor  to  the  head  and  all  the  hands  of  the  Commis- 
sary Department  of  the  Navy.    Their  details  are  micro- 
scopicallyminute,  and  their  compass  thoroughlycomplete. 
i-e-Se  upon  page  of  memorandum  and  calculation-with 
the.  firstlies,  secondlies,  up  to  twentiethlies,  exact  as 
ma  hematics  could  make  them,  methodical  as  an  adept 
cou  d  confive,  and  simple  and  clear  enough  for  a  bullet- 
headed  clerk  to  comprehend-are  here  to  confront  his 
selMepreciation.     At  one  time  the  guns  are  being  made 
under  his  own  eye,  that  their  quality  may  be  insured 
while  economy  is  consulted;  at  another,   the  order  is 
withdiwn  because  the  funds  will  not  reach  the  outlay 
with  the  protest,  "I  hate  to  borrow  a  gun."    Again,  he 
offirs  o  go  to  New  York  to  superintend  the  preparation 
ofthe  'pemmican-requiredfor  the  voyage.    "Ifwecould 
pi-ocure  a  malt-kiln  for  a  single  week,  I  would  under- 
take the  matter;  and  I  think  we  could  prepare  it  more 
economically  and  of  more  certain  quality." 

At  this  time  his  pen  was  running,  his   telegraphs 
%mg,  he  was  worrying  the  Department,  examining  re- 
cruits,  inventing  cooking-stoves,  pricing  rounds  of  beef 
mmmaging  the  Medical  Bureau  at  Washington  till  he  had' 
succeeded  ,n  bc-ging  some  $2000  worth  of  outfit "  and 
was  all  the  while  up  to  his  elbows  in  a  batch  of  Depart- 
."cnt-dough  that  was  only  souring  while  he  was  tryin. 
to  make  it  rise.  *^    ° 


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23 


■  s 


\  t- 


176 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


No  humaii  quantity  of  omniscience  and  providence 
would  have  been  a  full  match  for  the  duties  with  which 
this  one  man  was  burdened,  and  no  other  man  would 
have  performed  them  half  so  well.  It  was  a  "perfectly 
thought-out  organization"  and  a  wonderfully  endeavored 
preparation.  Moreover,  it  must  be  recollected  that  he 
was  well  warranted  in  relying  upon  Mr.  Grinnell's  ability, 
generosity,  and  responsibility  for  all  those  arrangements 
of  the  vessel  and  outfit  which  did  not  appropriately^  anj 
especially  devolve  upon  himself. 

In  a  note  to  the  first  page  of  this  chapter,  the  doctor's 
English  sympathies  are  indicated;  his  American  enthu- 
siasm is  as  well  entitled  to  a  presentment :  the  one  sprang 
from  the  generous  breadth  of  his  liberality;  the  other 
rooted  itself  in  a  patriotism  as  intense  ac^  ever  was 
covered  by  the  banner  of  his  country. 

England  had  almost  monopolized  the  honors  of  Arctic 
exploration  on  the  American  continent.  The  North- 
west Passage  was  her  achievement.  Under  De  Haven, 
Dr.  Kane  had  helped  to  plant  the  stars  and  stripes  upon 
the  most  northern  land  then  discovered  upon  the  Western 
hemisphere;  and  now  he  would  carry  it  to  the  open  sea, 
if  it  was  in  the  power  of  man  to  accomplish  that  feat. 

He  had  announced  his  plan  of  search  for  Sir  John 
Franklin,  and  his  prospect  of  reaching  the  open  Polar 
waters  by  the  route  of  Smith's  Sound,  early  in  the 
autumn  of  the  preceding  year;  but,  three  months  before 
he  can  be  ready  for  the  enterprise,  he  in  aroused  by  the 
fear  that  England  may  pluck  the  honor  of  this  acbieve- 


It 


THE    HONORS    IN    DANGER. 


177 


ver   was 


ment  from  the  American  service.     Let  us  see  how  it 
aflfected  him. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1853,  confined  to  bis  room 
and  too  111  to  write,  he  dictated  the  following  letter  to 
Mr.  Kennedy: — 

«  My  DEAR  Sir:-I  take  the  liberty  of  sending  for  your 
perusal  a  letter  which  I  have  just  received  from  Lady 
Franklin,  to  assure  you  of  the  gratitude  with  which  she 
re  gards  your  kindness. 

"The  same  mail,  to  my  great  mortification,  brings  me 
the  news  that  the  British  Admiralty  have  adopted  my 
scheme  of  search,  and  are  about  to  prosecute  it  with  the 
aid  of  steam.  Nothing  is  left  me,  therefore,  but  a  com- 
petition with  the  odds  agairct  me;  and  for  this,  even,  I 
must  hasten  the  preparations  for  my  departure.  I  will 
be  in  Washington,  with  this  object,  without  the  delay  of 
an  hour,  and  sLall  do  myself  the  honor  of  reporting  to 
you." 

6th  of  March,  he  writes  to  Mr.  Grinnell :— "  You  l-  news 
that  the  ^Advance'  is  in  dock  came  pleasantly  in  accord- 
ance  with  my  wishes.  The  only  means  by  which  we 
can  compete  with  the  screw-steamer  of  Inglefield  is  by 
an  early  presence  in  Melville  Bay,  which  may,  by  a  for- 
tunate  season,  enable  us  to  enter  the  North  Water  with 
the  whaling-fleet  by  the  June  passage.  I  am  very 
anxious  to  reach  the  Duck  Islands  by  the  last  of  May. 

"My  own  impression  as  to  Smith's  Sound  is,  that  it  is 
seldom  open  until  late  in  the  8ummer,~say  last  of  August, 
-unless  the  winter  be  what  is  termed  an  open  ''one' 

12 


178 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


4 


Should  this  latter  good  fortune  be  the  case  this  season, 
we  may,  by  an  early  presence,  get  the  start  even  of  a 
steamer :  but  I  am  discouraged. 

"Should  the  ice,  however,  be  *fast'  across  the  Sound, 
and  my  plan  of  sledge  and  boat  progress  come  regularly 
into  play,  I  ask  no  favors :  steamer  or  no  steamer,  we 
shall  do  well." 

17th  of  May:  "Every  hour  saved  is  of  importance 
with  regard  to  Inglefield." 

19th,  to  Mr.  Kennedy :  "You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that 
n>  f  delay  has  not  as  yet  interfered  with  our  prospects. 
idy  late  letters  from  Lady  Franklin  speak  of  Inglefield 
as  not  yet  leaving,  and  the  Baffin  Bay  ice  as  probably 

stiU  fast." 

Two  weeks  before  sailing:  "It  seems  to  me,  taking 
Inglefield's  departure  into  consideration,  that  we  cannot 
be  of  too  soon.  ...  If  we  start  at  once,  and  are  favored 
with  a  fair  passage,  we  may  yet  meet  Inglefield." 

Even  the  log  of  the  first  officer  shows  that  the  trip  up 
the  coast  of  Greenland  was  a  chase, — a  steeple-chase ;  the 
Advance  on  the  heels  of  the  Isabel,  doubling  the  Bay  of 
Melville  to  get  the  inside  track,  and,  for  a  week,  running 
with  iceberg  tugs  against  steam,  and  in  at  the  winning- 
post  handsomely,  to  learn  at  last  that  she  had  been 
running  against  time  I 

For  all  this  apprehensiveness  was  a  mistake.  Inglefield 
was  not  bound  for  Smith's  Sound.  He  was  ten  days 
ahead  at  Sukkertoppen ;  but  he  was  despatched  to  Lan- 
caster Sound,  as  Dr.  Kane  learned  on  his  return  two 


■ADMIHALTT    CHART. 


179 


years  afterwards.     The  mistake  waa  like  many  another 

that  has  set  the  world  agog:  it  was  a  mistake  of  a  wa^ 

Lady  Franklin  had  informed  him  that  the  Admiralty 

had  ad,^ted  his  plan  of  search.    They  had  only  approJd 

.  ;  and  they  had  no  intention  of  prosecuting  it  with 
steam. 

78   28  21  North,  and  extending  through  seven  points 
of  the  compass,"  was  not  sufficiently  persuasive;  but  the 
Adimralty  lost  nothing  by  waiting  for  better  advices,  and 
Dr.  Kane  gained  nothing  by  the  faith  which  he  so  frankly 
gave  to  the  report.     His  journal  says,  "  There  can  be  no 
correspondence  between  my  own   and  the  Admiralty 
charts  north  of  latitude  78°  18'.     Not  only  do  I  remove 
the  general  coast-line  some  two  degrees  in  longitude  to 
the  eastward,  but  its  trend  is  altered  sixty  degrees  in 
angular   measurement.      No  landmarks  of  my  prede- 
cessor. Captain  Inglefield,  are  recognizable." 

Since  the  publication  of  these  corrections,  the  news- 
papers  have  announced  that  "The  British  Board  of  Ad- 
mrralty  have  notified  our  Government  that  they  have 
accepted  Dr.  Kane's  charts,  thus  throwing  overboard  the 
charts  of  Captain  Inglefield  and  other  Arctic  navigators 
belongmg  to  the  British  navy,  as  well  as  the  works  of  all 
"t  Dr.  Kane  s  predecessors  on  the  coast  of  Greenland  » 

Dr.  Kane  had  every  other  motive  for  hastening  his 
departure  for,  and  early  arrival  in,  the  Polar  sea,  which 
the  purposes  of  his  voyage  required;  but  the  desperate 
struggle  which  he  made  to  secure  the  honors  of  Arctic 


■fesC 
C4S1 


iju' 
•  .a 

•»C*iW. 


o 

29 


180 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


h« 


discovery  to  American  enterprise  deserves  a  record  here, 
and  a  generous  appreciation  in  the  minds  of  his  country- 
men. His  heart  was  moved  to  its  depths  by  the  hapless 
fate  of  the  lost  mariners  of  England,  and  the  helpl(is 
sorrow  of  the  friends  they  left  behind  them;  the  govern- 
ing impulse  that  sent  him  out  twice  upon  the  search  was 
sympathy  for  the  sufferers;  but  a  patriotism  as  ardent 
and  enthusiastic  as  a  pilgrim's  religion  devoted  him  to 
his  country's  glory. 

About  the  middle  of  April  he  went  to  New  York,  to 
give  his  personal  attention  to  the  outfit  of  the  ship,  and 
to  hasten  her  departure.  Immediately  after  his  arrival 
he  was  taken  ill,  and,  for  three  weeks,  was  bedftist  under 
the  kind  care  of  Mr.  Grinnell's  family.  Writing  to  Mr. 
Kennedy;  from  Philadelphia,  on  the  19th  of  May,  he 
says,  "After  a  cruel  attack  of  inflammatory  rheuma- 
tism, and  three  weeks  of  complete  helplessness  on  my 
beam-ends,  I  find  myself  ready  to  start." 

To  Mr.  Grinnell  he  writes : — "  I  am  so  much  better 
that  I  hope  to  be  able  in  a  day  or  two  to  ask  you  to 
name  a  day  for  our  departure ;  whereupon  I  will  so  leave 
Philadelphia  as  to  give  myself  a  week  in  New  York. 

"  The  enemy  still  hangs  by  me,  and  it  requires  several 
hours  to  thaw  out  my  night's  stiffness.  The  doctors, 
however,  tell  me  that  I  must  expect  this  until  I  get  off 
soundings : — no  very  comforting  opinion  to  a  man  who 
has  so  much  hard  work  ahead. 

"  When  I  review  my  sickness,  its  time  and  place,  your 
own  devoted  hospitality,  and  the  pleasant  store  of  recol- 


A    TIME    TO    BE    SICK. 


181 

lections  which  it  hasli;^;;;^,  I  eannot  say  that  I 
regret  my  attack.  Providence,  who  watches  over  our 
Expedition,  has  his  own  wise  ends  to  fuiei  in  this  afflic- 
bon  to  myself;  and,  while  I  feel  that  we  have  as  yet  lost 
nothing  ^.a*e«%  by  our  delay,  I  regard  it  as  a  positive 
gam  that  my  disease  should  have  manifested  itself  before 
my  departure." 

Those  six  weeks  of  suffering  and  incapacity  for  the 
work  of  preparing  for  his  departure  were  indeed  a  heavy 
drawback  then,  and  their  burden  and  embarrassment  fol- 
lowed  him  in  painful  memories  through  the  voyage. 
After  journalizing  the  ghastly  merriment  of  the  party 
on  the  next  Christmas  day,  in  the  ice  of  Smith's  Sound' 
he  makes  a  significant  allusion  to  the  terrible  struggle 
which  it  had  cost  to  break  away  from  home  under  circum- 
stances  so  forbidding. 

"So  much,"  he  says,  "for  the  Merrie  Christmas.   What 
portion  of  its  mirth  was  genuine  with  the  rest  I  cannot 
tell,  for  we  are  practised  actors,  some  of  us;  but  there 
was  no  heart  in  my  share  of  it.     My  thoughts  were  with 
those  far  off,  who  are  thinking,  I  know,  of  me.    I  could 
*army  own  troubles  as  I  do  my  eider-down  coverlet-  for 
I  can  see  myself  as  I  am,  and  feel  sustained  by  the 
knowledge  that  I  have  fought  my  battle  well.      But 
there  ,s  no  one  to  tell  of  this  at  the  home-table.     I^tir 
nacuy,  unwise  daring,  calamity,_any  of  these  may  come 
up  unbidden,  as  my  name  circles  round,  to  explain  why 
1  am  still  away."  ' 

Did  he  turn  from  this  sad   remembrance,  and  the      ' 


182 


ELISHA   KENT  KANE. 


equally  sad  prospect  before  him,  to  make  with  his  own 
hand  an  entry  in  the  log  kept  by  the  first  officer,  as  a 
man  of  faith  plants  an  anchor  in  a  storm  of  trouble  ?  It 
reads  thus: — "Sunday,  December  25.  The  birthday  of 
Christ." 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Grinnell,  written  two 
weeks  before  sailing,  serves  to  show  that  we  may  read  in 
this  epitomized  creed  of  Christianity,  a  profession  of  his 
faith,  and  not  a  mere  confession  of  dependency  induced 
by  the  weakness  of  suffering : — 

"  My  dear  Sir  : — All  the  expeditions  in  search  of  Sir 
John  Franklin  have  accompanied  their  daily  inspections 
with  a  short  form  of  prayer  suited  to  the  emergencies  of 
their  peculiar  service. 

"  The  isolated  state  of  our  little  party,  together  with 
its  probable  trials,  call  strongly  for  a  similar  exercise; 
and,  as  the  time  of  our  departure  is  at  hand,  I  write  to 
suggest  that  you  take  the  matter  into  consideration." 

The  "march  of  mind,"  demolishing  another  mystery 
of  nature  at  every  step  in  its  conquering  pathway,  has 
wellnigh  banished  faith  from  our  philosophy  of  life. 
Inductive  science  rejects  the  supernatural.  Chivalry, 
the  religion  of  egotism, — which  substitutes  daring  for  duty, 
generosity  for  charity,  and  honor  for  godliness, — is  our 
explanation  of  heroism  in  its  grandest  manifestations. 
That  a  holier  Spirit  "works  in  any  man  both  to  will 
and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure,"  is  an  assumption  which 
opinion  in  this  nineteenth  century  of  Christianity  is  shy 
of  admitting. 


SPECIAL    PROVIDENCE. 


183 


Dr.  Kane's  heroism  would  have  been  reckless  if  it  had 
not  been  reverent:  he  believed  that  whatever  God  wills 
a  man  maj  do :  he  believed  in  special  providence.      His 
life  was  full  of  this  confidence.    In  the  journal  of  his  first 
Arctic  vojage  there  are  such  evidences  of  it  as  these  :- 
"April  21.— I  have  more  than  crnnmm  cause  for  thank- 
fulness.     A  mere  accident  kept  me  from  starting  last 
night  to  secure  a  bear.     Had  I  done  so,  I  would  probably 
have  spared  you  reading  any  more  of  my  journal.    The 
ice  over  which  we  travelled  so  carelessly  on  Saturday 
has  become,  by  a  sudden  movement,  a  mass  of  floating 
rubbish."  ^ 

"11th  of  June.— One  thing  more:  a  thought  of  grati- 
tude before  I  turn  in.  This  journal  shows  that  I  have 
been  in  the  daily  habit  of  taking  long,  solitary  walks 
upon  the  ice,  miles  from  the  ship.  Suppose  this  rupture 
to  have  come  entirely  without  forewarning!" 

In  the  journal  of  his  second  voyage  °to  the  Arctic 
region,  among  twenty-two  striking  instances  of  clear 
recognition,  I  quote  an  example  or  two. 

On  the  10th  September,  1854:  "It  is  twelve  months 
to-day  since  I  returned  from  the  weary  fooUramp  which 
determined  me  to  try  the  winter  search.  Things  have 
changed  since  then,  and  the  prospect  ahead  is  less  cheery 
But  I  close  my  pilgrim-experience  of  the  year  with 
devout  gratitude  for  the  blessings  it  has  registered,  and 
an  earnest  faith  in  the  support  it  pledges  for  the  times 
to  come." 

Speaking  of  a  time  when  things  were  at  the  worst,  he 


ca 


184 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


V  A 


,1 
4 


says,  "  I  look  back  at  it  with  recollections  like  those  of  a 
nightmare.  Yet  I  was  borne  up  wonderfully.  I  never 
doubted  for  an  instant  that  the  same  Providence  which 
had  guarded  us  through  the  long  darkness  of  winter  was 
still  watching  over  us  for  good,  and  that  it  was  yet  in 
reserve  for  us — for  some;  I  dared  not  hope  for  all — to 
bear  back  the  tidings  of  our  rescue  to  a  Christian  land. 
But  how,  I  did  not  see." 

Prayer,  both  in  its  acknowledgments  and  petitions, 
implies  such  reliance  upon  interpositions.  Wilson,  one 
of  the  rescue-party  in  that  ice-journey  which  has  en- 
graved its  record  upon  the  millions  of  hearts  that  have 
followed  its  terrific  details  with  their  sympathies,  says, 
"Just  before  we  started,  [on  the  return  with  the  rescued 
men,]  while  the  rest  of  the  party  surrounded  the  sledge 
with  uncovered  heads,  Dr.  Kane  rendered  thanks  to  the 
Great  Ruler  of  human  destinies  for  the  goodness  he  had 
evinced  in  preserving  our  feeble  lives  while  struggling 
over  the  ice-desert,  exposed  to  a  blast  almost  as  wither- 
ing as  that  from  a  furnace.  The  scene  was  extremely 
solemn,  as,  deeply  impressed  by  the  situation,  our  com- 
mander poured  forth  ready  and  eloquent  sentences  of 
gratitude  in  that  lonely  solitude,  whose  scenery  offered 
every  thing  to  depress  the  mind  and  nothing  to  cheer  it. 
Not  a  word  fell  from  his  lips  that  did  not  find  a  ready 
response  in  our  own  hearts  when  we  reflected  upon  the 
dangers  we  had  undergone,  and  the  cert&;inty  of  death 
which  would  have  followed  a  continuance  of  exposure 
for  even  a  few  hours." 


it' 


HOW    READEST    THOU? 


186 


Journalizing  the  incidents  of  a  day  of  severest  trial, 
danger,  and  despondency,  he  "rendered  to  every  man  a 
reason  for  the  hope  that  was  in  him,"  covering  under 
the  form  of  common  words  the  still  higher  grounds  on 
which  it  rested  for  himself.  He  puts  its  vindication 
thus : — 

"I  never  lost  my  hope:  I  looked  to  the  coming  spring 
as  full  of  responsibilities,  but  I  had  bodily  strength  and 
moral  tone  enough  to  look  through  them  to  the  end.    A 
trust  based  on  experience  as  well  as  on  promises  buoyed 
me  up  at  the  worst  of  times.     Call  it  fatalism,  as  you 
ignorantly  may,  there   is  that  in   the  story  of  ev^iy 
eventful  life  which  teaches  the  inefficiency  of  human 
means  and  the  present  control  of  a  Supreme  agency 
See  how  often  relief  has  come  at  the  moment  of  ex- 
tremity,  in  forms  strangely  unsought,_almost,  at  the 
time,  unwelcome;   see,  still  more,  how  the   back   has 
been   strengthened   to   its   increasing   burden,  and  the 
heart  cheered  by  some  consciom  influence  of  an  unseen 
Power." 

^^  We  have  underscored  the  words  which  must  be  read 
"with  the  heart  and  with  the  understanding  also"  to  find 
the  emphasis  which  his  own  faith  and  practice  gave 
them. 

"Read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest"  them,  if  you 
would  know  what  they  meant  for  him  and  what  they 
may  be  to  you. 

This  Christian  heroism  that  served  him  for  his  own 
great  trials,  fortified,  by  its  outraying  influence,  his  crew 


251 


W^' 


186 


ELISTiA    KENT    KANE. 


for  theirs.  Within  the  sphere  of  his  life  they  lived  above 
the  level  of  their  own.  One  of  them  answered  me, 
when  I  queg^tioned  him  upon  this  aspect  of  his  govern- 
ment:— "Well,  it  kept  us  human  when  we  were  nearly 
desperate.  While  we  stood  with  uncovered  heads  in  an 
atmosphere  far  below  zero,  his  prayers  brought  up  the 
spirit  of  society  and  civilization  in  us;  and,  although 
we,  perhaps,  had  very  little  religion  in  us,  we  always 
had  some  about  us." 


0 


CHAPTER  XI. 

MOTIVES  AND^OBJECTS -DECLARATION  m  ^rrnEMrs-WORKim  UP 
THE  COAST  OP  GREENLAND-GOOD-BYE-A  VATHER's  TESTIMONY- 
FRANKLIN'S  CHANCES-REFUGE  WITH  THE  NATIVES-SUPPORTING 
AUTHORITIES-SIR  R.  MURCHISON-THE  BRAVE  TRUST  THE  BRAVE- 
CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  8CIENCE-INEDITED  MANU8CRIPTS-THE  OPEN 
SEA-LOGICAL  DEMONSTRATION-THE  niSCOVERY-THE  LASTTHROW 
-WILLIAM  MORTON— FACTS  AND  THEORIES— LIEUTENANT  MAURY— 
KANE'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT-BRITISH  ACHIEVEMENTS-RESULTS  OP 
EXPLORATION-WASHINGTON  LAND-T/ITHIN  THE  POLAR  ICE-RING. 

"Enterprises  of  great  pith  and  moment"  command 
our  admiration,  sympathy,  and  emulation  with  the  varied 
force  which  the  quality  of  their  motives  and  objects 
deserves.    The  agility  and  courage  of  a  rope-dancer  on  hie 
perilous  balance  do  not  affect  us  in  the  same  way  as  the 
generous  daring  displayed  by  a  fireman  in  the  rescue  of 
a  child  from  a  burning  house.    There  is  natural  nobleness 
enough  in  anybody  to  feel  the  diiference  between  a  hard 
day's  journey  on  an  errand  of  benevolence,  and  the  feat 
of  walking  a  hundred  successive  hours  for  a  wager.     A 
novelist,  ar,  orator,  or  a  player,  may  work  upon  the  sym- 
pathetic emotions  of  virtue  until  our  heart-strings  answer 
like  echoes  to  his  touch;  but  we  are  not  deceived  nor 

187 


188 


ELISIIA   KENT    KANE. 


Mn 


.||if 


i 


M  ' 


cheated  into  an  admiration  unworthy  of  ourselves.  We 
were  not  made  in  the  Divine  image  to  take  seemings  for 
things.  Our  instincts  stand  by  the  real  interests  of  the 
world  and  of  the  universe,  and  we  will  not  meanly  sur- 
render our  souls  to  any  imposture.  We  say  to  every 
man  who  challenges  our  admiration  for  his  deeds,  "  Stop ! 
worship  touches  the  life  of  the  worshipper.  If  your 
objects  are  nothings,  expect  nothing  for  them :  if  youi- 
motives  are  selfish,  pay  yourself  for  them.  We  will  not 
make  fools  cf  ourselves:  we  will  settle  the  account  justly 
to  you  and  honorably  to  us." 

"  No  man  knoweth  the  things  of  a  man,  save  the  spirit 
of  man  which  is  in  him."  Dr.  Kane  speaks  of  the  mo- 
tives which  thrust  him  out  upon  his  last  Arctic  voyage, 
under  circumstances  as  solemn  as  those  which  govern  the 
wording  of  a  last  will  made  within  the  shadow  of  death. 
I  quote  from  letters  written  as  he  was  about  to  enter  the 
fearful  passage  of  Melville  Bay : — 

"July  14,  1863. 

"Dear  Brother  and  Friend: — Things  look  so  Arctic, 
and  the  big  responsibilities  of  my  undertaking  arc  so 
crowding  around  me,  that  I  sit  down  from  very  impulse 
to  give  you  a  brother's  letter  of  confidence. 

"It  is  the  quiet  hour  at  which  you  and  I  begin  to  live; 
lacking  midnight  not  over-much,  yet  in  a  full  glare  of 
day.  The  bergs  of  Omenak's  Fiord  are  marching  down 
from  their  glaciers;  and  Proven,  our  last  connecting  port 
with  thu  white  man's  world,  is  but  a  few  miles  ahead  of 
us.     Melville's  Bay  will  bid  me  its  third  welcome  before 


DECLARATION    IN    EXTREMIS.  189 

three  days  have  passed;  and,  if  it  bids  me  God-speed 
again,  jou  will  have  no  more  letters  until  I  announce 
success  or  failure. 

«  Now  that  the  thing~the  dream-has  concentred  itself 
nito  a  grim,  practical  reality,  it  is  not  egotism,  but  duty, 
to  talk  of  myself  and  my  plans:  I  represent  other  lives 
and  other  interests  than  my  own. 

"The  object  of  my  journey  is  the  search  after  Sir 
John  Franklin :  neither  science  nor  the  vain  glory  of 
attaining  an  unreached  North  shall  divert  me  from  this 
one  conscientious  aim/' 

Then  follows  a  long,  minute,  and  exact  programme 
of  his  intended  operations  by  boat  and  sledge  after 
reaching  the  farthest  point  to  which  the  brig  could 
be  pushed,-an  equally  careful  directory  for  any  search- 
mg  party  who  might,  perchance,  be  sent  to  relieve 
him  after  a  second  winter's  absence :  and  the  letter  con- 
cludes : — 

"God  bless  you,  my  own  dear  brother.  Do  justice  to 
my  motives,  and  believe  neither  in  unmixed  good  or 
unmixed  evil  in  this  world  of  medley.     Good-bye !" 

"  aovEHNon's  IIousK,  Upeunavick,  July  23    1853 

"My  DEAR  Father :--Looking  through  the  port-holes 
of  tins  house-hulk,  I  see  two  hundred  and  sixteen  icebergs 
floating  in  a  sea  as  dead  and  oily  as  the  Lake  of  Tiberias; 
yet  I  cannot  warm  my  thoughts  to  talk  about  them.' 
Time  was  when  1  could  have  piled  epithets  upoa  such  a 
scene:  but  that  time  has  passed;  facts  only  are  my  aim 


o: 


190 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


now.  The  last  week  has  been  spent  by  me  almost  con- 
stantly in  an  open  boat,  striving  to  overcome  the  delays 
of  an  everlasting  calm  by  making  my  purchases  without 
"coming  to  anchor.  This  is  a  somewhat  novel  service  to 
routine  naval  men ;  but  I  have  saved  precious  hours  by 
it,  and  now  write  to  bid  you  share  with  me  congratula- 
tions. 

"I  have  all  my  furs, — reindeer,  seal,  and  bear;  my 
boot-moccasins,  walrus  lashings,  my  sledges,  harnesses, 
and  dogs, — and  all  of  these  without  delaying  the  brig  an 
hour  upon  her  course !  Dogs  are  here,  as  horses  are  with 
you,  matters  of  negotiation,  and  oftentimes  not  to  be 
obtained.  He  (the  dog)  is  the  camel  of  these  snow- 
deserts;  and  no  Arab  could  part  with  him  more  grudgingly 
than  do  these  Esquimaux.  Congratulate  me;  for  I  have 
all  my  dogs,  and  the  tough  thews  of  the  scoundrels  shall 
be  sinews  of  war  to  me  in  my  ice-battles. 

"In  quest  of  them  I  have  threaded  the  fiords  between 
Kangeit  (about  twenty  miles  south  of  Proven)  and 
Karsiek,  and  thence  to  Upernavick,  once  fifty  miles  at  a 
single  pull.  During  this  hard  labor  we  cooked  birds  upon 
the  rocks,  and  slept  under  buffalo-robes.  Human  desti- 
tution— the  filthy  desolation  of  the  Esquimaux  settle- 
ments— was  contrasted  with  glories  beyond  conception. 
I  had  never  before  realized  the  grand  magnificence  of 
Greenland  scenery.  It  would  be  profanation  to  attempt 
to  describe  it." 

After  speaking  of  other  and  unexpected  helps,  of  a 
character  that  promised  greatly  more  than  they  fulfilled, 


GOOD-BYE.  191 

he  continues :~"  I  feel  that  something  must  be  achieved ; 
and,  if  your  son  fails  to  bring  back  his  often  and  hard' 
battered  carcass,  he  will  at  least  send  back  a  record  of 
manly  effort  and  hardly-tried-for  success. 

''Our  brig  is  only  fifteen  miles  from  the  harbor,  trying 
to  fan  her  way  with  a  feeble  off-shore  breeze,  which  has, 
since  I  began  to  write,  ruffled  with  cat's-paw  tremors  the 
surface  of  the  dead  waters.     Our  course  is  now  directly 
for  the  bay;  and,  as  far  as  my  ice-knowledge  can  predict 
its  condition,  every  thing  is  in  favor  of  a  safe  and  easy 
passage.     Say  this  to  mother,  but  to  no  outside  person, 
as  I  do  not  wish  to  hazard  an  opinion.     Say  to  mother 
to  have  no  fears  on  Arctic  account.    I  am  not  entirely 
well,  but  as  well  as  I  would  be  at  home,  and  so  trusting 
in  the  Great  Disposer  of  good  and  ill  that  I  am  willing 
to  meet  like  a  man  the  worst  that  can  happen  to  one 
secure  of  right,  and  approving,  heart  and  soul,  of  that 
m  which  he  is  engaged.     Good-bye.  E.  K.  K. 

"Love'  a©- my  last  word  is  'Love.'" 


((( 


Dr.  Kane's  published  journals  are  full  of  the  evidences 
of  his  faith  in  the  survivorship  of  at  least  some  of  Frank- 
lin's party,  and  of  his  hopeful  devotion  to  their  rescue. 
His  father,  speaking  from  that  intimacy  and  certainty 
of  knowledge  which  an  unreserved  confidence  afforded, 
in  a  note  published  in  the  papers  of  the  day,  says  of 
him,  "His  characteristic  with  us  was  hi^  sensibility  to 
conscientious  impuL-c      It  was  this  which  carried  him 

the  second  timo  in  iho.  P^^lo«  „ — j   i  _  i  >^    i 

-„  -...,.  i,^iu.i  cca,,  auu,  liud  uoa  Spared 


€4 


at] 
O. 


192 


ELISHA.    KENT    KANE. 


4^ 


hipi,  would  have  made  him  return  there  again ;  for  he 
believed,  as  none  but  the  true-hearted  can  believe  any 
thing,  that  some  of  Franklin's  party  were  still  alive,  and 
that  it  was  the  mission  of  his  life  to  reclaim  them.  He 
had  a  child-like  fondness  for  the  affections  of  home;  but 
this,  and  zeal  for  science,  and  ambition  for  fame,  and  all 
else  that  could  connect  itself  with  motive,  was  subordi- 
nated to  his  one  great  conviction  of  duty." 

The  grounds  of  this  confidence  not  only  held  against 
his  own  terrible  experiences  of  Arctic  exposure,  but  arose 
out  of  those  experiences.  In  May,  1854,  after  testing 
the  ability  of  his  party  +o  endure  a  temperature  as  low 
as  6T''  below  zero.,  or  99°  below  the  freezing-point  of 
water,  he  says,  "How  can  my  thoughts  turn  despair- 
ingly to  poor  Franklin  and  his  crew? 

"Can  they  have  survived?  No  man  can  answer  with 
certainty ;  but  no  man,  without  presumption,  can  answer 
in  the  negative. 

"If,  four  months  ago,  surrounded  by  darkness  and 
bowed  down  by  disease,  I  had  been  asked  the  question, 
I  would  have  turned  toward  the  bleak  hills  and  the 
frozen  sea,  and  responded,  in  sympathy  with  them,  '  No.' 
But  with  the  return  of  light  a  savage  people  came  down 
upon  us,  destitute  of  any  but  the  rudest  appliances  of  the 
chase,  who  were  fattening  on  the  most  wholesome  diet 
of  the  region,  only  forty  miles  from  our  anchorage,  while 
I  was  denouncing  its  scarcity. 

"For  Franklin  every  thing  depends  upon  locality; 
but,  from  what  I  can  see  of  Arctic  exploration  thus  far, 


franklin's  chances. 


193 

it  would  be  hard  to  &ni7^^ol  fifty  miles'  diameter 
entirely  destitute  of  animal  resources. 

"Of  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-si.x  picked  men  of  Sir 
John  Fra„k,i„  ;„  jg^g^  Northern  Orkney  men,  Green- 
land whalers,  so  many  young  and  hardy  constitutions, 
with  so  much  intellige    ,  experience  to  guide  them,  I 
cannot  realize  that  some  may  not  yet  be  alive;  that  some 
small  squad  or  squads,  aided  or  not  aided  by  the  Esqui- 
mau.x  of  the  Expedition,  may  not  have  found  a  hunting, 
ground,  and  laid  up,  from  summer  to  summer,  enough  of 
fuel  and  food  and  seal-skins  to  brave  three,  or  even  four 
more  winters  in  succession."  ■  ' 

In  the  midst  of  the  last  winter,  long  after  the  daily 
prayer  was  changed  from  "Lord,  accept  our  gratitude, 
and  bless  our  undertaking,"  to  "Lord,  accept  our  grati- 
tude  and  restore  us  to  our  homes,"  his  journal  reads: 
-  Please  God  in  his  beneficent  providence  to  spare  us  for 
the  work  I  will  yet  give  one  manly  tug  to  search  the 
sliores  of  Kennedy  Channel  for  memorials  of  the  lost 
and  then,  our  duties  over  here,  and  the  brig  still  prison! 
bound,  enter  trustingly  upon  the  ta^k  of  our  escape  " 

In  March,  1856,  ten  full  years  after  the  last  date  of 
franklin's  record  among  the  living,  he  wrote  to  Mr 
(jrinnell: 

"In  my  opinion,  the  vessels  cannot  have  been  suddenly 
destroyed,  or  at  lea.t  so  destroyed  that  provisions  and 
stores  could  not  have  been  established  in  a  safe  and  con- 
venient  dep6t.    With  this  view,  which  all  my  experience 

01  ice  sustains,  pornoq  fVi^  ^^ii-x i  ,. 

--,  —.1...,^  ta^  v^uiiaiuriii  questiou  as  to  the 

18 


^r^-iSi 


»-ymm 


o 


194 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


safety  of  the  documents  of  the  Expedition.  But  this, 
my  friend,  is  not  all.  I  am  really  in  doubt  as  to  the 
preservation  of  human  life.  I  well  know  how  glad  I 
would  have  been,  had  my  duties  to  others  permitted  me, 
to  have  taken  refuge  among  the  Esquimaux  of  Smith's 
Straits  and  Etah  Bay.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  you, 
we  regarded  the  coarse  life  of  those  people  with  eyes  of 
envy,  and  did  not  doubt  but  that  we  could  have  lived  in 
comfort  upon  their  resources.  It  required  all  my  powers, 
moral  and  physical,  to  prevent  my  men  from  deserting 
to  the  walrus-settlements ;  and  it  was  my  fixed  intention 
to  have  taken  to  Esquimaux  life,  had  Providence  not 
carried  us  through  in  our  hazardous  escape. 

"Now,  if  the  natives  reached  the  seat  of  the  missing 
ships  of  Franklin,  and  there  became  possessed,  by  pilfer 
or  by  barter,  of  the  articles  sent  home  by  Rae  and  Ander- 
son, this  very  fact  would  explain  the  ability  of  some  of 
the  party  to  sustain  life  among  them.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  natives  have  never  reached  the  ships,  or  the 
s,3at  of  their  stores,  and  the  relics  were  obtained  from 
the  descending  boat, — then  the  central  stores  or  ships  are 
unmolested,  and  some  may  have  been  able,  by  these  and 
the  hunt,  even  yet  to  sustain  life. 

"All  my  men  and  officers  agree  with  me  that,  even  in 
the  desert  of  Rensselaer  Bay,  we  could  have  descended 
to  the  hunting-seats,  and  sustained  life  by  our  guns  or 
the  craft  of  the  natives.  Sad,  and  perhaps  useless,  as  is 
this  reflection,  I  give  it  to  you  as  the  first  outpouring  of 
my  conscientious  opinions." 


!■ 


SIE    E.    MURCHISON. 


195 


We  are  concerned  now  only  with  the  earnestness  of 
Dr.  Kane's  own  convictions,  and  the  reasons  which  held 
his  judgment  in  harmony  with  his  heart  to  his  la^t  hour 
m  the  dedication  of  his  life  to  the  enterprise  of  rescuing 
the  missmg  mariners;  but  this  is  the  right  place  to  give 
the  opinions  of  those  high  authorities  who  held  the  same 
hope,  and  for  the  same  reasons,  after  his  had  gone  with 
him,  unfulHUed,  to  his  grave. 

Sir  Roderick  Murchison,  President  of  the  Royal  Geo- 
graphical  Society  of  London,  delivering  the  anniversary 
discourse,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1857,  holds  the  following 
language: — 

"Lastly,  Dr.  Kane  performed  those  extraordinary  re- 
searches  beyond  the  head  of  Baffin's  Bay  which  obtained 
for  him  our  gold  medal  at  the  last  anniversary,  the  high- 
e«t  eulogy  of  our  late  President,  and  the  unqualiBed 
admiration  of  all  geographers. 

"At  that  time,  however,  we  had  not  perused  those 
thrilling  pages  which  have  since  brought  to  our  mind's 
eye  the  unparalleled  combination  of  genius  with  patient 
endurance  and  fortitude  which  enabled  this  youn.. 
American  to  save  the  lives  of  his  associates. 

"With  what  simplicity,  what  fervor,  what  eloquence 
and  what  truth,  he  has  described  the  sufferings  and  perils 
from  which  he  extricated  his  ice-bound  crew,  is  now  duly 
appreciated;  and  you  must  all  agree  with  me  that  in  the 
who  e  history  of  literature  there  never  was  a  work 
written  which  more  feelingly  develops  the  struggles  of 
humanity  under  the  most  intense  sufic-rings,  or  demon- 


'ca 


(f:i^ 


o 


sJ 


4' 


196 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


1 


etrates  more  strikingly  how  the  most  appalling  difficulties 
can  be  overcome  by  the  union  of  a  firm  resolve  with  the 
never-failing  resources  of  a  bright  intellect. 

"  In  all  these  soul-stirring  pages  there  is  no  passage 
which  comes  more  home  to  the  Englishmen  who  are  still 
advocating  the  search  for  the  relics  of  the  Erebus  and 
Terror  than  that  in  which,  after  judging  from  the  expe- 
rience of  his  own  companions  how  men  of  our  lineage  may 
be  brought  to  bear  intense  cold  and  trail  on  their  existence 
among  the  Esquimaux,  he  thus  soliloquizes: — 'My  mind 
never  realizes  the  complete  catastrophe, — the  destruction' 
of  all  Franklin's  crews.  I  picture  them  to  myself  broken 
into  detachments,  and  my  mind  fixes  on  one  little  group 
of  some  thirty  who  have  found  the  open  spot  of  some 
tidal  eddy,  and,  under  the  teachings  of  an  Esquimaux, 
or  perhaps  one  of  their  own  Greenland  , /balers,  have 
set  bravely  to  work,  and  trapped  the  fox,  speared  the  bear, 
and  killed  the  seal,  the  walrus,  and  the  whale.  /  tJdnJc 
of  them  ever  with  hope.    T  sicken  not  to  he  able  to  reach  them' 

"These  generous  and  lofty  sentiments,  as  I  shall  after- 
wards point  out  in  dwelling  on  Lady  Franklin's  final 
search,  are  shared  by  that  distinguished  Arctic  officer 
of  the  United  States  navy,  our  associate.  Captain  Hart- 
stene;  and  they  have  justly  awakened  the  hope  in  the 
breasts  of  many  of  my  countrymen  and  myself  that  some 
of  the  fine  young  fellows  who  sailed  with  Franklin  may 
still  be  alive,  and  must,  for  the  honor  of  our  country,  be 
sought  for,  as  well  as  the  debris  and  records  of  the  Ere- 
bus and  Terror." 


THE  BRAVE  TRUST  THE  BRAVE. 


197 


If  the  events  of  the  search  now  on  foot  under  the  con- 
duct  of  Captain  McClintock,  directed  as  it  is,  by  the 
thorough  but  hitherto  unsuccessfnl  explorations  of  all 
the  region  round  about,  to  the  spot  where  Franklin  and 
his  companions  must  have  gone,  shall  disprove  Dr.  Kane's 
inferences,  his  mistake  will  be  explained,  to  all  who  under- 
stand his  character,  by  the  tendency  of  an  ardent  mind 
to  believe  every  thing  possible  which,  in  the  like  circum- 
stances, he  could  himself  achieve.   Franklin's  party  could 
not  have  fallen  into  more  hopeless  circumstances  than 
his  own  encountered;  and  why  should  they  utterly  perish 
when  he  escaped  ?  or,  failing  to  accomplish  so  grand  an 
enterprise  as  his  retreat  to  a  place  of  security,  how  could 
he  believe  that  they  should  perish  helplessly  where  he 
and  his  little  crew  could  survive?     The  leader  of  the 
retreat  from  Smith's  Sound  was  not  the  man  to  appre- 
hend impossibilities  for  resolute  men. 

For  the  objects  of  this  voyage,  other  than  the  rescue 
of  the  Franklin  party,  and  subordinate  to  it,  but  in  them- 
selves worthy  of  the  man  and  of  his  heroic  endeavor  to 
achieve  them,  I  must,  perforce,  refer  the  reader  to  the 
clear  and  effective  display  which  they  have,  in  the  well- 
known  volumes  which  Dr.  Kane  has  given  to  the  public. 
Especially  would  I  call  the  attention  of  all  who  are 
capable  of  such  inquiries,  to  the  Appendix  of  the  Kane 
Expedition :  it  occupies  nearly  two  hundred  pages  of  the 
second  volume. 

The  mass  of  Dr.  Kane's  million  readers  has  been,  I 
am  safe  in  supposing,  only -too  much  absorbed  by  the 


^a 


198 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


I 
til 


narrative  of  the  Expedition  to  turn  patiently  to  the 
scientific  results  so  elaborately  and  yet  so  attractively 
presented  in  the  Appendix. 

If  it  were  possible,  and  at  the  same  time  conformable 
to  the  purpose  and  limits  of  this  memoir,  to  digest  the 
results  which  are  in  danger  of  being  overlooked  by  the 
general  reader,  it  would  be  a  labor  of  love  to  endeavor 
its  accomplishment;  but  that  service  must  be  rendered 
to  the  public  and  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane  as  an 
author  and  cultivator  of  physical  science  under  other 
conditions.  I  expect,  as  I  hope,  that  it  will  be  done  by 
a  more  competent  hand.  The  mass  of  inedited  manu- 
script left  by  Dr.  Kane  will  some  day  be  material  for  a 
work  such  as  he  would  have  executed,  whenever  the 
man  shall  be  found  to  supply  the  loss  which  natural 
science  sustained  by  his  early  removal  from  his  own  great 
field  of  labor. 

Variously  endowed  as  he  was  for  observing  and  resolv- 
ing the  phenomena  of  nature,  and  skilled  as  he  was, 
beyond  all  men  equally  qualified  for  collecting  the  data, 
in  the  art  of  writing  for  general  instruction,  the  loss  to 
the  public  in  this  unfulfilled  purpose  of  writing  a  book 
of  Arctic  science  such  as  would  have  satisfied  himself, 
is  beyond  estimate,  and,  it  is  to  be  fear -J.  ^^ill  neve^  be 
wholly  supplied. 

We  are  concerned  now  only  with  Dr.  Kane's  personal 
history,  and  not  otherwise  with  his  scientific  achieve- 
X  :^nts  than  as  they  illustrate  the  man.  This  involves  his 
Vjeory  of  an  open  sea  at  or  near  the  North  Pole,  and  his 


THE    OPEN    SEA. 


199 


announcement  of  an  actual  discovery  of  such  a  body 
of  open  water,  beginning  above  the  eighty-first  degree 
of  north  Latitude  and  extending  to  an  unknown  distance 
northward. 

The  grounds  upon  which  he  rested  this  doctrine  are 
fully  set  forth  in  his  lecture  delivered  before  the  American 
Geographical  and  Statistical  Society,  at  New  York,  on  the 
14th  of  December,  1852,  to  which  we  beg  leave  to  refer, 
because  it  cannot  be  condensed  effectively  for  any  pur- 
pose here.  It  is  published  in  the  Appendix  to  his  "  First 
Expedition,"  page  543. 

The  open  sea  discovered  by  the  party  sent  out  in  June, 
1854,  from  the  brig  lying  then  ice-bound  in  Rensselaer 
Harbor,  latitude  78°  37'  10"  North  and  longitude  70°  40' 
West  from  Greenwich,  is  located  at  a  little  above  lati- 
tude 81°;  the  linear  distance  from  the  brig  being  one 
hundred  and  ninety-six  miles,  and  the  travel-distance, 
following  the  indentations  of  the  coast-line  of  the  bay 
and  channel  intervening,  about  three  hundred  and  twenty 
miles.  William  Morton  and  Hans  Christian,  a  half- 
breed  Esquimaux,  constituted  the  party  who  discovered 
and  reported  it.  Dr.  Kane  and  the  astronomer,  Mr. 
Son  tag,  were  at  the  time  ill  of  scurvy;  Dr.  Hayes  had 
just  returned  from  his  survey  of  the  coast  of  Giinnell 
Land,  worn  out  and  snow-blind;  and  of  the  whole  crew 
and  officers  there  were  but  six  well  men  on  the  health- 
roll.  Four  of  these  were  despatched  in  advance,  with  pro- 
visions, to  the  base  of  the  Great  Glacier,  (one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles'  travel-distance,)  to  endeavor  to  scale 


1?00 


ELISHA  KE\^T  KA!^E. 


li,  v 


f 

w 

f 

I 

• 

anc^survey  it;  and  Morton  and  Hans  were  sent  with 
them,  under  instructions  to  push  to  the  north  across 
Peabody  Bay  and  advance  along  the  more  distant  coast. 

The  period  for  exploration  was  passing  rapidly  away. 
The  party  were  in  the  hapless  condition  described;  but  the 
summer  and  the  objects  of  the  voyage  must  not  be  lost. 
The  journal  has  it: — "I  am  intensely  anxious  that  the 
party  shall  succeed.  It  is  my  last  throw.  They  have 
all  my  views;  and  I  believe  they  will  carry  them  out 
unless  overruled  by  a  higher  Power. 

"But  I  am  not  without  apprehensions  that,  with  ail 
their  efforts,  the  Glacier  cannot  be  surmounted. 

"In  this  event,  the  main  reliance  must  be  on  Mr.  Mor- 
ton :  he  takes  with  him  a  sextant,  artificial  horizon,  and 
pocket-chronometer,  and  has  intelligence,  courage,  and 
the  spirit  of  endurance  in  full  measure.  He  is  withal  r. 
long-tried  and  trusty  follower." 

This  character  Mr.  Morton  had  earned  by  every  form 
of  trial  to  which  it  could  be  put  through  four  years  of 
close  relations,  beginning  with  the  Arctic  voyage  of  the 
first  Grinnell  Expedition,  in  1850,  of  which  they  were 
both  members;  and  the  after  and  equally  trying  expe- 
riences of  his  worth,  which  continued  unbroken  up  to 
the  death  of  the  leader,  loft  the  faithful  follower  and 
friend  with  an  ample  confirmation  of  all  this  conlidonce 
and  trust. 

He  needs  no  other  certificate  of  character  to  secure 
our  confidence ;  and  he  does  not  need  even  this  with  those 
who  knov/  him  well. 


THE    DISCOVERT. 


201 


Both  to  the  accuracy  and  veracity  of  his  report  Dr. 
Kane  gave  unreserved  credence.  But  he  speaks  of  the 
inferences  to  be  drawn  from  Morton's  narrative  with  his 
characteristic  caution,— the  caution  of  that  mental  and 
moral  truthfulness  which  led  him  to  utter  the  remark- 
able sentence  that  closes  the  introductory  chapter  to  his 
".First  Expedition:"—" I  might  have  done  more  wisely 
if  I  had  been  content  to  substitute  sometimes  the  educated 
opinions  of  others  for  those  which  impressed  me  at  the 
moment.  My  apology  must  be  that  /  do  not  profess  to 
he  accurate,  hut  iruthful" 

And  nov/,  when  summing  up  the  points  bearing  upon 
the  great  question  of  an  open  Polar  sea,  he  says,  "I  am 
reluctant  to  close  my  notic  of  this  discovery  without 
adding  thnt  the  details  of  Mr.  Morton's  narrative  har- 
monized with  the  observations  of  all  our  party;"  and 
then  continues,  "I  do  not  proceed  to  discuss  here  the 
causes  or  conditions  of  this  phenomenon.  How  far  it 
may  extend,— whether  it  exists  simply  as  a  feature  of 
the  immediate  region,  or  as  a  part  of  a  great  and  unex- 
plored area  communicating  with  the  Polar  basin,— and 
what  may  be  the  argument  in  favor  of  the  one  or  the 
other  hypothesis,  or  the  explanation  which  reconciles  it 
with  established  laws,— may  be  questions  for  men  skilled 
in  scientific  deductions.  Mine  has  been  the  more  humble 
duty  of  recording  wliat  we  saw.  Coming  as  it  did,  a 
mysterious  fluidity  in  the  midst  of  vast  plains  of  soHd 
ice,  it  was  well  calculated  to  arouse  emotions  of  the 
highest  order;  and  I  do  not  believe  there  was  a  man 


Ka 


202 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


among  us  who  did  not  long  for  the  means  of  embarking 
upon  its  bright  and  lonely  waters.  But  he  who  may  be 
content  to  follow  our  story  for  the  next  four  months  will 
feel  that  a  controlling  necessity  made  the  desire  a  fruit- 
less one." 

The  three  following  pages  of  the  book*  are  given  to 
the  consideration,  or  rather  to  the  suggestion  for  the 
reader's  use,  of  certain  facts  involved  in  the  issue;  but 
he  betrays  no  overweening  desire  to  lodge  an  affirmative 
conclusion  in  the  minds  which  he  is  addressing.  Ou 
the  Contrary,  he  disclaims  any  such  inclination,  defer- 
ring, gracefully  as  modestly,  the  theoretical  argument  to 
Lieutenant  Maury,  Superintendent  of  the  National  Ob- 
servatory, who  has  made  the  physical  geography  of  the 
sea,  and  the  currents  of  the  ocean  of  air,  his  own  province 
by  the  cultivation  of  their  science  with  such  success  as 
has  given  him  a  world-wide  ftime,  and  an  authority 
among  physicists  growing,  it  may  be  said,  daily  by  the 
constantly  advancing  attainments  of  his  labor. 

Moreover,  in  the  notes  appended  to  the  brief  discussion 
in  which  he  indulges,  he  takes  care  to  guard  the  un- 
learned in  Arctic  phenomena  against  the  hasty  conclu- 
sions which  they  might  draw  from  the  imposing  array  of 
facts  that  support  the  doctrine  of  an  open  water  from  the 
point  observed  to  the  Pole.  He  says,  indeed,  "I  do 
not  see  how,  independently  of  direct  observation,  this 
Btate  of  facts  can  be  explained  without  supposing  an  ice- 


I;  Si 


*  Second  Expedition,  vol.  i.  pp.  30G-309. 


Kane's  official  report. 


203 


less  area  to  the  farther  north;"  but,  he  interposes  again, 
*'How  far  this  may  extend— whether  it  does  or  does  not 
communicate  with  a  Polar  basin— we  are  without  facts 
to  determine.  I  would  say,  however,  as  a  cautionary 
check  to  some  theories  in  connection  with  such  an  open 
basin,  that  the  influence  of  rapid  tides  and  currents  in 
destroying  ice  by  abrasion  can  hardly  be  realized  by 
those  who  have  not  witnessed  their  action." 

In  his  official  report  made  to  the  Navy  Department 
after  his  return,  he  states  the  whole  matter  thus  ;— 

"  This  precipitous  headland,  the  farthest  point  attained 
by  the  party,  was  named  Cape  Independence.  It  is  in 
latitude  81°  22'  N.  and  longitude  65°  35'  W.  It  was 
only  touched  by  William  Morton,  who  left  the  dogs  and 
made  his  way  to  it  along  the  coast.  From  it  the  western 
coast  was  seen  stretching  for  towards  the  north,  with  an 
iceless  horizon,  and  a  heavy  swell  rolling  in  with  white 
caps.  At  a  height  of  about  five  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea  this  great  expanse  still  presented  all  the  appearance 
of  an  open  and  iceless  sea.  In  claiming  for  it  this  cha- 
racter I  have  reference  only  to  the  facts  actually  observed, 
without  seeking  confirmation  or  support  from  any  deduc- 
tion of  theory.     Among  such  facts  are  the  followinfi--— 

o  ■ 

"1.  It  was  approached  by  a  clianncl  entirely  free 
from  ice,  having  a  length  of  fifty-two  and  a  mean  width 
of  thirty-six  geographical  miles. 

"2.  The  coast-ice  along  the  water-line  of  this  channel 
had  been  completely  destroyed  by  thaw  and  water- 
action;  while  an  unbroken  belt  of  solid  ice,  one  huii- 


:  %ju 

'    Mtmm 

o 


204 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


t«¥ 


dred  and  twenty-live  miles  in  diameter,  extended  to  the 

south. 

"3.  A  gale  from  the  northeast,  of  fifty-four  hours' 
duration,  brought  a  heavy  sea  from  that  quarter,  without 
disclosing  any  drift  or  other  ice. 

"4.  Dark  nimhus  clouds  and  water-sky  invested  the 
northeastern  horizon. 

"  5.  Crowds  of  migratory  birds  were  observed  throng- 
ing its  waters." 

In  his  summary  of  the  operations  of  the  Expedition 
in  the  same  document,  thus :— "  The  discovery  of  a  large 
channel  to  the  northwest,  free  from  ice,  and  leading  into 
an  open  and  expanding  area  equally  free.  The  whole 
embraces  an  iceless  area  of  four  thousand  two  hundred 

miles." 

Immediately  after  his  return  from  the  region  in  ques- 
tion, after  closing  an  extemporized  report  of  his  voyage 
and  its  results  before  the  Geographical  Society  of  New 
York,  he  was  asked  by  Mr.  Chauncey,  "Is  it  possible, 
in  your  opinion,  to  reach  this  open  sea  with  boats  and 
explore  it?"  He  answered,  "  That  is  coming  rather  near 
home.  I  think,  with  a  proper  organization,  it  might  be 
reached ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  yet  ber  reached  and 
be  explored." 

He  never  said  or  claimed  more  for  a  circumpolar  open 
sea  discovery  than  this.  It  was  not  in  the  nature  of  the 
man  at  thirty-six  years  of  age,  who  wrote  the  Kyestein 
thesis  at  twenty-one,  to  confound  hypothesis  with  dis- 
covery, or  to  mistake  inferences  for  facts  observed.    Bui 


BRITISH    ACHIEVEMENTS. 


205 


that  he  believed  theoretically  in  a  navigable  Polar  sea  is 
abundantly  proved  by  his  adoption  of  the  Smith's  Sound 
route  of  search,  relying,  as  he  did,  upon  an  open  path- 
way from  its  northern  outlet,  east  and  west,  to  the  Green- 
land Sea  or  Wellington  Channel,  as  the  search  might 
eventually  determine.  And  when,  after  all  his  expe- 
riences, and  his  own  failure  for  lack  of  the  necessary 
means,  he  said  that  he  had  no  doubt  it  would  yet  be 
reached  and  explored,  he  uttered  a  predlctiori  based  ujion 
known  facts,  which,  we  may  safely  venture  to  believe 
with  him,  will  yet  be  fulfilled. 

The  best  corroboration  of  this  expectation  accessible 
to  the  general  reader  to  which  1  can  refer  is  the  eighth 
chapter  of  Maury's  "Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea," 
edition  of  1857. 

Kane  has  left  this  legacy  of  honorable  adventure  to 
his  countrymen,  and  they  will  yet,  and  that  ere  long, 
prove  themselves  worthy  of  the  trust. 

The  magnetic  pole  in  the  Western  hemisphere  has  been 
discovered  and  definitely  located ;  the  Northwest  Passage, 
with  a  i^ortage  mserthn,  has  been  found, — a  channel  sealed 
solid  by  Jack  Frost,  or  a  submerged  isthmus  of  obstructing 
rock,  sheeted  with  ice, — no  matter :  the  question  is  solved, 
and  the  discoverer  duly  honored,  putting  that  old  worry 
to  rest.  But,  whether  the  magnetic  pole  fluctuates,  with 
the  frost-pole  for  company,  or  the  water  between  Banks' 
Land  and  Melville  Island  will  not,  British  enterprise  has 
carried  off  the  honors  of  these  achievements. 

It  is  very  certain  now  that  this  passage  will  never  be 


lea 


>— ; 


206 


ELISnA  KENT  KANE. 


ploughed  by  the  keels  of  commerce,  or  otherwise  answer 
to  the  venerable  old  hopes  which  hung  upon  its  discovery. 
It  cannot  be  made  a  track  for  the  missionaries  of  religion, 
civilization,  and  learning,  nor  does  it  open  a  gate  for 
military  invasion ;  but  the  search  for  it  has  given  us  the 
geography  and  natural  history  of  almost  all  the  land- 
masses  of  the  Western  hemisphere ;  and  the  long  endeavor 
has  fully  repaid  all  the  incident  expenditure  of  wealth, 
labor,  and  life,  so  generously  lavished  upon  it. 

The  whale-fishery  of  the  Greenland  seas  alone  has 
cost  a  hundred  times  more  of  sacrifice;  and  we  dare  not 
even  compare  the  benefits  which  trade  reaps  in  whale- 
bone and  fish-oil  with  the  treasures  of  useful  knowledge 
gathered  by  the  liberal  labors  of  science  led  by  benevo- 
lence in  the  Arctic  regions. 

Since  1848,  when  fears  for  the  safety  of  Sir  John 
Franklin  and  his  crews  began  to  be  entertained,  twenty- 
five  expeditions,  employing  thirty-one  vessels  and  costing 
four  millions  of  dollars,  have  attempted  to  solve  the 
mystery  of  his  fate.  The  enterprise  to  which  he  gave 
himself  is  now  known  to  be  a  vain  one,  so  far  as  com- 
merce or  travel  is  concerned,  and  all  the  hopes  of  his 
rescue  are  still  unfulfilled;  but  the  world  has  not  lost 
the  treasure  or  the  lives  which  have  been  expended  in 
the  search  for  the  Northwest  Passage  and  for  the  long- 
lost  mariners. 

The  results  of  these  explorations  make  up  a  grand 
library  of  useful  knowledge.  Geography,  geology,  me- 
teorology, have  gained  largely  by  the  great  undertaking; 


11: 


WASHINGTON    LAND. 


e  answer 


^  207 

and,  when  the  contributions  which  it  has  made  to  our 
stock  of  knowledge  come  to  be  thoroughly  understood, 
it  will  be  time  to  estimate  adequately  the  worth  of  Arctic 
adventure. 

The  two  American  expeditions  in  which  Dr.  Kane 
participated  and  of  which  he  was  the  historian,  and  that 
of  Captain  Hartstene,  of  which  he  and  his  companions 
were  the  object,  have  secured  some  of  the  grandest  prizes 
of  geographical  enterprise  which  the  nineteenth  century 
has  aimed  at:  De  Haven  baptized  the  most  northern 
land  of  the  American  continent  with  an  American 
name,  and  Kane  has  put  that  of  Washington  upon  the 
most  northern  land  on  the  globe ! 

It  is  something,  surely,  to  have  discovered  the  position 
of  the  magnetic  pole  and  the  geographic  range  of  the 
lowest  temperature.  It  is  something  to  have  traced  the 
great  current-system  of  the  ocean,— to  have  demon- 
strated its  circulation  from  the  earth's  tropic  heart  to  its 
polar  extremities,  bearing  out  its  arterial  heat,  and  re- 
turning the  great  centripetal  tides,  as  the  veins  return  * 
the  Hfe-currents  to  their  source  for  revivification. 

Arctic  exploration  has,  within  the  last  forty  years, 
done  as  much  for  physical  geography  as  the  labors  of 
the  same  period  have  accomplislied  in  any  other  depart- 
ment of  natural  knowledge;  and,  much  as  it  has  yielded 
of  mature  fruit,  it  has  brought  us,  besides,  to  the  open 
portal  of  a  new  world  of  terrestrial  discovery.  The  Polar 
sea  opened  to  observation  by  the  Kane  Expedition  of  1854 
promises  still  more  than  all  that  has  yet  been  secured. 


c> 


208 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


For  there,  within  the  barrier  of  perpetual  ice,  is  the 
treasury  of  the  ocean-tides;  there  is  the  nursery  of  that 
migratory  life  which  fills  the  seas  and  air  of  the  northern 
temperate  zone;  there  the  wondrous  compensations  of 
polar  and  tropical  forces  are  displayed ;  there  stands  the 
observatory  of  the  globe,  its  chemical  laboratory,  the 
theatre  of  its  meteoric  exhibitions,  and  a  thousand  secrets 
besides,  to  enrich  the  natural  sciences,  and  to  correct  and 
adjust  all  that  we  already  know  of  the  system  of  our 
planet  in  accordance  with  the  truth  and  beauty  of  its 
paramount  laws. 

None  of  these  things  are  so  remote  as  the  movements 
of  the  solar  system.  They  cannot  be  of  less  moment  to 
us.  They  must  be  available  for  extending  the  control 
of  man  over  the  material  agencies  by  which  he  is  sur- 
rounded; and  they  are  all  here  put  within  our  reach. 
The  way  is  opened;  the  route  is  charted;  its  practica- 
bility is  proved;  and  it  is  impossible  to  doubt  the  grand 
results  of  a  well-appointed  expedition,  guided  by  the  suc- 
cesses, and  guarded  by  the  failures,  of  that  one  whose  first- 
fruits  are  the  assuring  promise  of  the  full  harvest. 


ft 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THENATURALSCIENCES-GLACIOLOGY-RELIEP-FXPEDmON-CAPTAIN 
HARTSTENE-DR.  JOHN  K.  KANE-THE  KNIGHT  AND  HIS  SQUIRE- 
THE  THREE  CAPTAINS-AUTHORSHIP  AGAIN-PAINS  AND  PENALTIES 
-AUTHOR  AND  PUBLISHERS-THE  UNWRITTEN  BOOK-ENGRAVINGS 
-MR.  HAMILTON-DR.  KANE's  DRAWINGS-ARTISTIC  SKILL-FACI- 
LITY AND  FIDELITY-CONGRESSIONAL  SUBSCRIPTION-POPULAR  AND 
PUBLIC  PATRONAGE-THE  AUTHOR'S  INVOLVEMENT -THE  SECRE- 
TARY'S COMMENDATION— TESTIMONIALS  AND  MEDALS. 

It  has  been  my  proper  business  to  study  Dr.  Kane's 
published  journals  with  care.  Whoever  will  do  the 
same  thing  with  the  interest  in  their  contributions  to 
natural  science  which  they  deserve  will  feel  something  of 
the  reluctance  with  which  I  forego  their  presentation  in 
this  work.  But  it  was  not  until  I  was  alarmed  by  the  vast 
'•ange  of  these  topics  to  which  the  drift  of  the  last  chapter 
had  well-nigh  committed  me,  that  I  felt  at  once  the  full 
force  of  the  onward  impulse,  and  the  severity  of  those 
restramts  of  my  plan  and  limits  which  compel  me  to 
break  away  from  the  seductive  entanglement. 

There  are  treasures  of  tribute  here  to  the  sciences  of 

physical  geography,  zoology,  meteorology,  climatology, 

and  anthropology,  which  their  cultivators  will  do  well  to 

11  


14 


209 


2a 


210 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


¥ 


avail  themselves  of.  Some  acquaintance  with  the  pre- 
sent state  and  requirements  of  these  departments  of 
physical  philosophy  warrants  me  in  directing  attention  to 
these  books, — more  especially  to  his  first  journal  of 
exploration,  which,  after  all,  is  the  book  of  the  two. 

The  savam  are  just  now  very  earnestly  engaged,  as 
upon  a  fresh  field  of  inquiry,  with  that  branch  of  phy- 
sical geography  which  may  be  called  glaciology.     They 
may  find  in  Dr.  Kane's  publications  a  mine  of  wealth 
ready  and  available  for  their  use.     For  nine  months  of 
his  first  voyage  the  "Advance"  lay  docked  in  an  ice- 
cradle,  and  at  the  same  time  adrift,  making  a  tour  of  a 
thousand  miles  on  the  Arctic  sea  under  bare  poles.    The 
daily  study  of  the  ice,  through  this  long  period,  by  a 
man  qualified  as  he  was  to  observe,  digest,  and  report, 
is  necessarily  full  of  instruction.     In  his  second  voyage 
he  had  the  opportunities  of  two  winters  nearer  to  the 
Pole  than  any  other  observer  with  his  means  and  capa- 
bility for  exact  observation  has  ever  been.     His  zeal  and 
industry  in  the  study  of  the  phenomena  presented,  and 
his  exactitude  in  recording  the  results,  have  no  parallel 
in  the  history  of  Arctic  exploration.    We  venture,  for  these 
reasons,  to  advise  those  who  have  gone  through  his  volumes 
under  the  influence  of  their  other  fascinations,  to  read 
and  re-read  them  till  they  can  see  through  the  enchant- 
ment the  substance  of  the  physical  truths  which  the 
genius  of  the  writer  has  veiled  with  its  brilliancy. 

Even  the  principal  incidents  of  the  last  voyage  must 
be  allowed  to  pass  without  a  record  here.     Indeed,  the}' 


OMISSIONS    SUPPLIED. 


211 

may  well  be  trusted  to  his  own  report,  which  has  been, 
and  will  be,  read  by  millions  who  will  never  opon  the  lids 
of  this  mere  supplement  to  the  Ufe  of  Kane  uncon- 
sciously written  into  the  texture  of  his  own  publications. 
There  are  some  things,  however,  omitted  in  that  "epic 
of  manly  endurance"--things  which  he  would  not  record : 
they  are  those  which  wholly  concerned  himself.     Some- 
thing of  all  this  has  been  supplied  by  three  of  his  com- 
panions  in  the  Expedition,  and  they  are  given  at  the  close 
of  these  chapters,  for  their  importance  as  the  testimony 
of  men  well  qualified  to  speak  to  the  points,  and  worthy 
of  all  reliance. 

It  is  due  to  these  gentlemen  to  say  here  that  these 
letters  were  not  prepared  for  publication ;  but  I  use  my 
liberties  at  my  own  discretion.  The  reader  will  thank 
me  for  presenting,  and  I  will  thank  the  writers  for  fur- 
nishing, them;  which  must  settle  the  account  between  all 
parties,  as  it  must  settle  all  the  others  which  I  have 
opened  so  freely  in  the  compilation  of  these  pages. 

In  our  narrative  we  left  Dr.  Kane  and  his  party,  on 
their  way  to  the  unknown  North,  on  the  verge  of  that 
fearful  ice-ring  which  environs  the  mystery  kept  secret 
since  the  world  began,  but  now  made  manifest,  and  by 
the  revelations  of  its  prophet  made  known  to  all  nations. 
This  allusion  is  neither  irreverent  nor  unwarranted; 
for  the  courage   and  virtue  which   inspire  the  knight- 
errants  of  noble  adventure  are  the  selfsame  qualities 
which  made  Israel  to  prevail  with  the  angel,  and  gave 
Paul  his  victories  over  the  spiritual  foes  which  beset 


'■■      '     '  in 


212 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


liim.  The  good  purposes  of  a  great  soul  rise  orderly 
into  the  supernatural :  they  are  always  sacrificial;  they 
have  cv^r  the  tone  of  devotion  and  the  spirit  of  martyr- 
dom; and  they  lake  its  risks,  too.  W.y  should  they  be 
levelled  in  our  apprehension  to  the  plane  of  a  common- 
place life,  or  be  muddit  1  with  its  low-pitched  motives, 
or  be  measured  by  its  stana.^rds? 

When  the  second  winter  set  w  without  bringing  home 
the  Advance  and  her  crew,  the  most  serious  alarm  for 
their  fate  was  felt  by  the  friends  of  tiiC  adventurers  and 
by  the  whole  mass  of  their  countrymen.  These  fore- 
bodings were  darkened  beyond  the  ordinary  apprehen- 
sion of  danger  in  Arctic  service  by  the  fact  that  their 
first  winter  had  been  an  unusually  severe  one,  and  by 
the  known  deficiencies  of  their  outfit  for  the  endurance 
of  a  second  one  in  the  ice.  Congress  was  memorialized 
by  the  learned  societies  who  stood  sponsors  for  the  under- 
taking; and  the  general  sentiment  of  the  people  pressed 
upon  their  representatives  and  public  servants  for  a 
relief-expedition  in  the  spring.  It  was  frankly  accorded, 
and  well  provisioned,  and  better  manned  and  officered. 

Two  vessels,  the  bark  Kelease  and  the  propeller 
Arctic,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Hartstene,  U.S.N., 
with  a  brother  of  Dr.  Kane,— Dr.  John  K.  Kane,— and 
Lieutenant  W.  S.  Lovell,  an  Arctic  expert  and  former 
companion  of  Dr.  Kane,  among  the  volunteers.  They 
left  New  York  on  the  31st  of  May,  1855,  exactly  two 
years  after  the  Advance  had  taken  her  departure  from 


the  si< 


aiue  yvib. 


DR.  JOHN    K.    KANE. 


213 

After  a  run  round  J3aflf]n's  Bay,  including  encounters 
witli  icebergs,  ice-fields,  hummocks,  and  the  usual  assort- 
merit  of  circumstances  which  characterize  that  sea  of 
troublos,-made  in  the  best  time,  in  the  best  style,  and 
to  the  best  purpose  of  all  the  voyages  into  that  region,- 
they  picked  up  the  lost  adventurers  on  their  homewird 
way,  after  they  had  achieved  for  themselves  a  deliverance 
from  all  their  dangers. 

For  the  story  of  this  relief-trip  by  Ilartstene  we  refer 
to  Putnam's  Magazine  for  May,  1856,  written  by  Dr. 
John  K.  Kane.  It  is  well  worth  the  reading  for  all  the 
usual  and  unusual  reasons,  and  for  this  besides:  that  it 
is  rich  with  the  relish  of  the  Kane  pluck  which  there  is 
in  it,  and  for  those  relief-touches  of  happy  authorship 
which  distinguish  the  style  and  movement  of  his  elder 
brother's  pen. 

A  word  of  our  own  gossip,  to  mark  the  conjunction  of 
things  at  Lievely,  where  Hartstene  found  the  Kane  party 
just  on  the  eve  of  making  their  way  home  in  a  Danish 
vessel  by  way  of  the  Shetland  Islands,  and  we  finish  this  - 
voyage  of  sufiering  and  success,  defeat  and  victory, 
strangely  mixed  till  they  landed  in  safety  at  New  York' 
on  the  nth  of  October,  1855,  after  a  thirty  months' 
absence. 

When  the  first  news  of  the  relief-vessels  of  Hartstene 
were  announced  to  the  forlorn  survivors  of  the  Arctic 
crew,  McGary,  Dr.  Kane's  "iron  man,"  sore  with  the  toils 
and  dangers  of  a  thirteen-hundred-mile  trip  in  an  open 
boat  through   Smith's  Sound  and   Melville  Bay,  said, 


<C 


.fjTA. 


•"■Mb, 

o 


rsss^ 


214 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


i' 


J 


"  There,  now !  we  have  had  all  our  hard  work  for  nothmg." 
"What!"  said  Dr.  Kane,  turning  sharply  on  him;  "are 
you  sorry  that  we  owe  our  deliverance  to  our  own  exer- 
tions?" 

It  was  the  knight  and  the  squire,  the  seer  and  his  ser- 
vant, over  again, — the  joint  adventure,  the  equal  peril,  the 
fellowship  of  daring,  doing,  and  enduring,  with  all  the 
difference  between  the  spiritual  and  natural  in  the  re- 
spective characters  of  the  inspiration  and  impulse. 

The  parties  to  this  brief  dialogue,  alas !  knew  not  then 
how  much  they  had  yet  to  pay  for  the  honors  which 
they  had  purchased.  McGary,  who  once  stood  to  his 
oar  for  twenty-two  unbroken  hours,  without  relaxing  his 
attention  or  his  efforts,  in  a  frenzied  sea,  and  his  com- 
mander, who  stood  at  his  unresting  toil  for  thirty  months, 
have  both  paid  with  their  lives  the  price  of  the  strength 
they  borrowed  for  the  demands  of  that  terrible  service. 

De  Haven  commanded  the  first  American  expedition 
to  the  icy  ocean  of  the  North;  Dr.  Kane,  ihe  second; 
Hartstene,  the  third  and  last :  the  navy  lost  no  honor  by 
either  of  them. 

When  Hartstene  was  on  his  way,  with  all  the  dangers 
of  his  search  immediately  before  him,  he  wrote  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  "To  avoid  further  risk  of  hu- 
man life  in  a  search  so  extremely  hazardous,  I  would 
suggest  the  impropriety  of  making  any  efforts  to  relieve 
us  if  we  should  not  return." 

That  will  do  for  the  character  of  the  man :  a  single 
incident  will  serve  for  u  sample  of  his  conduct.     Wiicn 


AUTHORSHIP    AGAIN. 


215 


his  ship  was  in  peril  he  coniied  her  for  thirty-six  hours, 
without  a  moment's  rest.  His  position  was  at  the  mast- 
head :  he  had  a  sprained  ankle  and  a  lame  arm,— his 
only  diversion  through  the  long  and  anxious  watch ! 

Our  readers  by  this  time  will  be  thinking  that  there 
are  some  chances  for  heroism  in  the  navy  without  blood- 
shed. If  they  do,  they  may  hurrah,  without  reserve  or 
protest,  for  Hartstene  and  De  Haven,  who  still  adorn  the 
service. 

Dr.  Kane  announced  his  safe  return  to  the  Hon.  John 
P.  Kennedy  by  letter  written  before  he  landed  in  New 
York,  dated  "Entering  Sandy  Hook,  Bark  Release, 
October  11,  1855."  He  says,  "We  are  back  again  safe 
and  sound,  after  an  open-air  travel  by  boats  and  sledges 
of  thirteen  hundred  miles."  Soon  after  this,  when  he 
met  his  friend  he  told  him,  "  My  health  is  almost  absurd : 
I  have  grown  like  a  walrus." 

This   stock   of  unwonted   strength  was    now  to   be 
employed  in  the  composition  and  illustration  of  the  book 
which  he  entitled  "Arctic  Explorations:    The  Second 
Grinnell  Expedition  in  Search  of  Sir  John  Franklin 
1853-54-55."  ' 

The  labor  upon  it  was  soon  commenced  and  long  sus- 
tanied.  The  toils  and  risks  under  which  its  materials 
were  gained  were  not  greater  to  him  than  this  task  of 
artist-authorsliip  in  which  he  was  now  engaged.  Nine 
hundred  pages  of  book-matter  carried  through  in  little 
more  than  six  months  is,  in  his  own  language,  "  no  fun ;" 
but  add  to  this  three  hundred  engravings  made  from  his 


'*ii»<hI 

&.JU.' 


ciii] 


216 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


own  sketches,  whose  execution,  from  the  moment  they 
went  into  the  hands  of  the  designer  till  the  last  proof- 
impression  came  from  the  printer,  required  his  own 
upervision,  and  complicate  all  this  with  the  thousand 
demands  made  upon  his  time  and  toil  by  the  celebrity- 
tax  levied  upon  him  at  this  time,  and  an  Arctic  voyage 
will  appear  almost  as  nothing  to  the  travail  of  his  last 
cruise  in  the  troubled  waters  of  "  authordom." 

The  narrative  was  finished  some  time  in  June ;  but 
the  Appendix  was  a  worry  till  September,  when  the  book 
was  issued. 

The  j)ains  and  penalties  arc  graphically  rendered  in 
his  letters  to  Mr.  Childs,  of  the  publishing  firm  of  Childs 
&  Peterson.  Brief  extracts,  grouped  in  the  order  of 
their  dates,  are  expressive  enough,  and  sufficiently 
explain  themselves : — 

"  The  Avretched  book !  there  is  no  reason  that  the  whole 
incuhus  should  not  be  off"  our  hands  this  week. — 3i  A.M." 

"The  rest  of  your  requests  shall  be  complied  with. 
At  present  the  letters  are  dancing  up  and  down,  and 
think  that  bed  is  the  best  place  for  me. — 3  a.m." 

"  My  wish  is  to  make  a  centre-table  book,  fit  as  well 
for  the  eyes  of  children  as  of  refined  women." 

"Now  that  the  'exploration'  is  over,  I  attempt  to  be 
more  popular  and  gaseous  :  this  latter  inflated  quality  in 
excess.  Most  certainly  my  eflfort  to  make  this  book 
readable  will  destroy  its  permanency  and  injure  me.  It 
is  a  sacrifice. — May  25." 

"  Very  glad  the  poor  book  meets  your  views.    Author 


AUTHOR   AND    PUBLISHERS. 


217 


dom  has  again  overdone  me.     I  will  have  to  take  a  spell 
soon. — June  7." 

"My  health  is  nothing  extraordinary  under  this 
extreme  heat;  but  T  think  that  I  have  accumulated 
enough  of  nerve-force  to  carry  me  through  to  that  omi- 
nously pleasant  word,  *  Finis.' — June  14." 

"With  little  spirit  of  congratulation,  and  much  weari- 
ness, I  send  you  the  prefare,  which  completes  my  text. 
I  am  not  the  first  who  has  manufactured  an  antecedent 
ex  ijost  facto;  and  there  is  a  sort  of  moral  conveyed  by 
this  ending  of  my  labors.  Now  that  the  holy  day  is  at 
hand,  I  am  ungrateful  enough  to  complain  that  it  finds 
me  without  the  capacity  to  enjoy  it. — July  4." 

"  Do  send  in  rapidly  the  proofs  of  the  Appendix,  and 
thus  shorten  my  slavery. — July  23." 

"My  health  goes  on  as  usual.  Something  is  the 
matter,  for  I  get  weaker  every  day.  I  tried  Long  Island 
bathing,  but  I  could  not  stand  it.— July  30." 

"  I  am  now  convinced  that  my  enemy  is  a  combina- 
tion of  rheumatism  and  the  Arctic  scourge  of  scurvy.— 
August  9." 

"  My  motion  being  impeded  by  my  maladies,  I  would 
regard  it  as  a  favor  if  you  could  come  to  me  for  a  few 
minutes. — August  21." 

"  I  am  unable  to  announce  any  improvement  in  my 
health.— September  18." 

"  At  present  I  see  no  possible  chance  of  being  able  to 
work  in  any  way ;  and  the  unanswered  letters  which 
crowd  nrorrnd  me  might  well  appall  an  abler  man.     I 


218 


ELISHA   KENT    KANE. 


P 


leave  in  a  fortnight,  probably  for  Europe,  as  a  sort  of  last 
resource,  to  catch  my  lost  blessing.  The  book,  poor  as 
it  is,  has  been  my  coffin. — September  23,  1856." 

His  own  unaifected  opinion  of  the  book  is  to  be 
gathered  from  what  we  have  quoted,  a..  1  from  another 
equally  private  and  earnest  utterance  which  the  letter- 
book  of  Mr.  Childs  furnishes.  Mr.  Childs  took  the 
liberty  of  striking  from  the  proof-sheet  of  the  preface  the 
following  paragraph,  after  it  had  passed  through  the 
author's  hands  to  go  into  type  : — "  I  might  excuse  myself 
for  the  thousand  imperfections  which  haste  and  official 
preoccupation — and  something,  too,  of  the  indisposition 
which  a  weary  man  may  feel  to  retrace  in  the  closet 
what  was  either  exciting  or  irksome  in  the  field — ^liave 
no  doubt  impressed  on  my  pages.  But  my  apology 
would  be  of  little  worth ;  for  I  know  how  imperfect  the 
book  is  while  I  am  giving  it  to  the  public." 

His  fight  for  freedom  in  the  preface,  which  he  inno- 
cently supposed  to  be  the  author's  preserve, — his  own 
absolute  domain, — was  a  vigorous  one;  but  the  auto- 
cracy of  the  press  would  not  allow  the  modesty  of  the 
author  to  depreciate  the  book  in  the  market. 

He  has  his  last  word  with  them  in  another  note.  He 
says: — "After  the  opus  magniun  now  in  your  hands,  I 
hope  to  publish,  f^ither  through  the  Smithsonian  or  the 
Government,  a  work  on  Ice,  for  reputation  sake." 

This  purpose  and  its  motive  put  its  whole  meaning 
into  the  first  sentence  of  the  published  preface : — "  This 
book  is  not  a  record  of  scientific  investigations :"  anrl  it 


DE.  Kane's  drawings. 


219 


makes  us  understand,  besides,  how  much  of  the  best  fruits 
of  his  life's  studies  and  achievements  were  reserved  for 
a  fitting  presentment  to  the  world. 

Of  the  engravings  of  the  work.  Dr.  Kane  says,  in  his 
preface,  "Although  largely,  and  in  some  cases  exclu- 
sively, indebted  for  their  interest  to  the  artistic  skill  of 
Mr.  Hamilton,  they  are,  with  scarcely  an  exception, 
from  sketches  made  on  the  spot." 

Their  excellence  has  had  a  large  share  of  the  admira- 
tion given  to  the  work.  Reviewers  have  turned  aside 
from  the  drift  of  their  argument  to  give  them  due  com- 
mendation. Taking  one  from  a  hundred  criticisms 
entitled  to  high  respect,  that  of  Blackwood's  Edinburgh 
Magazine  may  stand  for  the  whole  of  them: — "The 
engravings  of  Dr.  Kane's  book,"  says  this  high  authority, 
"are  eminently  happy  as  the  productions  of  a  man  who 
is  a  real  poet  in  art,  Mr.  Hamilton,  whose  good  taste 
scatters  beautiful  vignettes  like  gems  through  the  two 
volumes,  and  invests  the  whole  work  with  a  halo  of 
romance  mysterious  as  the  effects  of  light  in  those 
Northern  regions,  and  which  could  scarcely  have  been 
produced  by  the  power  of  words  or  the  letter-press." 

For  more  than  a  month  of  the  time  during  which  the 
artist  was  engaged  upon  these  illustrations,  he  occupied 
the  doctor's  own  rooms,  that  night  and  day  might  be 
given  to  their  execution.  Such  were  Mr.  Hamilton's 
opportunities  for  forming  an  opinion  of  the  autlior's 
capabilities  as  a  sketcher:  his  competency  is  attested  by 


mt 


■:imm» 


MfmMmm 


o 


^■|, 


220 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


til 


his  ,'i.dmitted  pre-eminence  as  a  landscape  and  marine 
painter. 

He  has  kindly  and  cheerrally  furnished  me  with  the 
following  letter: — 

"July  1,1857. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — Your  notr.  requesting  me  to  transmit  to 
you  my  impressions  -  :  ';ting  the  late  Dr.  Kane's 
sketches  is  received. 

"Although  fully  conscious  of  the  very  small  import- 
ance which  can  attach  to  any  thing  I  can  say  in  refer- 
ence to  any  matter  connected  with  the  illustrious 
explorer,  it  nevertheless  affords  me  great  pleasure  to 
communicate  to  you  my  '  opinion'  on  this  subject. 

"  One  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  the  doctor's 
sketches,  and  one  which  I  think  must  strike  the  most 
cursory  observer  at  all  conversant  with  art  or  nature,  is 
the  air  of  simple,  earnest  truthfulness  which  pervades 
them.  These  qualities,  without  which  the  most  labored 
efforts  are  comparatively  worthless,  exist  to  an  extent 
which  confers  importance  on  the  most  insignificant  of 
them, — the  great  bulk  of  them  being  directly  from 
nature,  and  embracing  scenery  and  incident  not  only 
from  the  Arctic  regions,  but  from  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe,  made  during  his  various  journeys  and  explora- 
tions. 

"  In  glancing  over  Dr.  Kane's  drawings  and  sketches, 
it  will  be  perceived  that,  whether  executed  with  every 
appliance   and    facility  which    modern   ingenuity  can 


ARTISTIC    SKILL. 


221 

furnish,  or  with  the  half-thawed  ink  and  greasy  paper 
or  pasteboard  accidentally  picked  up  among  the  rubbish 
of  the  ship's  store-room,  there  is  distinctly  traceable  in 
all  the  ever-present  influence  of  one  all-absorbing  object, 
—the  faithful  record  of  the  most  essential  features  and 
qualities  of  the  subject  or  scene  before  him. 

"Hundreds  of  illustrative  instances  might  be  readily 
selected  from  his  well-filled  folios  and  note-books.  I  will 
refer  to  a  few  of  those  which  furnished  the  material  for 
some  of  the  illustrations  of  the  'Arctic  Explorations.' 

"First,  we  will  select  that  of  'the  great  green  minaret/ 
Tennyson's  Monument.  The  original  sketch  is  of  the 
slightest  description,  and  in  lead-pencil. 

"Now,  everyone  accustomed  to  study  nature  practi- 
cally  is  aware  of  the  extreme  difficulty  of  rendering  the 
peculiar  texture  and  tone  of  old,  time-worn,  wealher- 
beaten  rock,  sandstone,  crushed  debris,  &c.     Its  success- 
ful rendition  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  achievements  of 
landscape  art.     In  the  sketch  of  the  subject  alluded  to, 
these  qualities  (notwithstanding  the  'coldness  and  sick- 
ness' suffered  at  the  time  of  executing  it,  mentioned  by 
the  lamented  navigator  in  his  journal)  are  secured  to  an 
extent  that  would  be  creditable  to  the  most  skilful  artist: 
every  fragment  is  jotted  down  with  a  perception  and 
feeling  which  seize  the   pecial  character  of  the  minutest 
particle  defmed,  and  yet  its  minutiie  in  no  way  conflict- 
ing wii^i  the  grandeur  of  the  subject. 
"In  the  subjects  of  the  Three  Brother  Turrets,  the 
1-...,  ,..,,^_„_  v,,v.^i^u  ••■lUiMUii,  viipeuorneiiua  lirin- 


%^n 


222 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


i 
I 

4 


nell,  Northumberland  Island,  Thackeray  Headland,  The 
Cliffs,  Glacier  Bay,  Beechey  Island,  and  in  scores  of  a 
similar  kind,  he  has  been  quite  as  successful. 

"With  the  exception  of  the  shattered  ice-belt  and  the 
piles  of  frozen  rubbish  which  are  incessantly  accumulating 
on  the  Arctic  shores  in  the  most  picturesque  combiner 
tions,  ice  and  its  numberless  formations  present  fewer 
difficulties  to  the  draughtsman  (owing  to  its  sharply 
defined  forms  and  striking  contrasts)  than  any  of  those 
mentioned.  Yet  in  this  department  we  find  the  doctor 
exercising  the  same  observance  of  local  peculiarities  as 
in  others  presenting  more  complicated  difficulties. 

"  Most  of  his  ice-studies  are  in  pen-and-ink  outlines, 
with  a  wash  of  the  same  material — common  writing-ink — 
for  background.  Some  of  them  are  extremely  good  and 
imposing  in  their  effects. 

"The  Icebergs  near  Kosoak,  the  Great  Glacier  of 
Humboldt,  Weary  Men's  Rest,  are  all  done  in  this  man- 
ner; together  with  numberless  others,  such  as  Ice-foot, 
Ice-hills,  Ice-rafts,  Ice-belts,  Ice-plains,  &c.  &c.  Many  of 
them  are  far  better  adapted,  pictorially,  for  engraving 
than  any  in  the  '  Explorations.'  This  applies  especially 
to  some  of  the  great  glacier-scenery. 

"  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that,  could  his  sketches 
be  placed  before  the  public,  they  would  add  still  further, 
if  that  were  possible,  to  his  reputation  as  an  Arctic 
explorer. 

"  From  these  few  straggling  and  imperfectly  expressed 


'vu  uaxx  xxixcx.   XXX  r    -■ 


FACILITY    AND    FIDELITY. 


223 


an  amateur  artist,  which  is,  as  I  understand  you,  the 
object  of  your  inquiry." 

In  a  postscript  Mr.  Hamilton  adds:— "Another  very 
note-worthy  feature  of  the  doctor's  sketching  was  the 
extreme  rapidity  with  which  it  was  executed.  In 
illustrating  his  wishes  upon  any  particular  subject,  I 
have  frequently  seen  him  make  slight  drawings  which 
required  but  a  very  few  additional  touches  to  render  them 
complete." 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  given  the  deserved  emphasis  to  Dr. 
Kane's  artistic  fidelity.  His  moral  veracity  was  akin  to 
it,  if  not  its  source  and  spring.  There  is  a  wide  differ- 
ence between  them,  or  there  may  be;  but  they  were  but 
one  in  him :  he  frequently  exacted  as  many  as  a  dozen 
successive  drawings  of  the  same  subject  before  he  was 
satisfied  with  the  accuracy  and  truth  of  the  representa- 
tion. In  a  note  at  the  end  of  the  first  volume  he  repu- 
diates two  of  the  prints  for  the  reason  that  his  sketches 
had  been  modified  by  the  artist. 

I  need  add  nothing  to  Mr.  Hamilton's  opinion  of  the 
sketches,  which  number  hundreds,  running  up  into  the 
thousands,  except  that  many  of  them  were  made  in  the 
open  air,  under  a  killing  temperature,  by  a  sick  man, 
with  the  broad  shoulders  of  Morton,  Stephenson,  or 
McGary  for  his  easel,  and  lead-pencils  for  his  imple- 
ments. 

Have  we  given  an  adequate  idea  of  the  art'st  and 
author  work  that  went  into  the  book? 

w  nen  tne  pur.lication  was  so  far  uuder  way  as  to  insure 


'•tri 


I- 


224 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


.ii,:a^'„ki>M 


its  early  completion,  the  publishers  undertook,  with  the 
author's  assent,  to  secure  a  subscription  from  Congress 
for  a  certain  number  of  copies.  A  bill,  under  the  conduct 
of  the  Honorable  J.  K.  Tyson,  and  with  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  Colonel  Florence,  of  Philadelphia,  Judge 
Pettit,  of  Indiana,  Governor  Aiken,  of  South  Carolina, 
Speaker   Banks,   of   Massachusetts,    and   many   others 

.  among  the  leading  men  of  the  House,  was  passed.  In 
the  Senate  it  was  ablj''  supported  by  Governor  Bigler, 
Judge  Douglas,  Governor  Seward,  Mr.  Sumner,  and  Judge 
Butler,  but  was  not  passed. 

The  reports  of  other  explorations  had  been  published 
at  a  lavish  expenditure  of  money  by  the  Government: 
the  publishers  thought  that  the  purchase  by  Congress 
of  a  limited  number  of  copies  would  come  within  the 
rule  of  these  precedents,  and  Dr.  Kane  felt  like  asking 
it  on  the  plain  grounds  of  justice  to  his  enterprise;  but 
he  was  governed  by  the  interests  of  the  firm  which  had 
undertaken  the  publication  at  an  expense  exceedi.^g 
seventy  thousand  dollars  for  the  first  edition  of  the  work, 
in  giving  his  consent  to  the  application,  more  than  by 
any  other  motive.  He  could  not  persuade  himself  that 
they  would  be  able  to  replace  their  liberal  outlay  by  the 
unassisted  sale  of  the  book;  and  he  could  not,  therefore, 
withhold  his  consent  from  a  measure  which  they  thought 
so  important  to  their  security. 

If  he  or  they  had  dreamed  that  the  first  year's  sales 
would  reach  the  enormous  number  of  sixty-five  thousand 

^copies, — one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  volumes, — at 


THE    author's    ItNVOLVEMENT.  225 

the  retail  price  reaching  the  sum  of  three  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  affording  sixtj-five  thousand  dollars 
copyright  to  the  author,  neither  of  them  would  have 
given  a  fig  for  any  thing  that  the  treasury  of  the  nation 
or  the  endorsement  of  Congress  could  do  for  it.  The 
issue  proved  that  the  patronage  withheld  was  no  loss  to 
the  parties  interested :  the  purchase  solicited  would  not 
have  added  a  dollar  to  their  income,  as  its  refusal  did 
not  take  ono  from  it. 

A  letter  of  Dr.  Kane's  to  Mr.  Childs  puts  this  affair 
upon  its  right  grounds  :— 

"I  had,  like  a  fool,  looked  upon  my  approaching  nar- 
rative as  that  of  a  voyage  of  discovery  undertaken  by 
order  of  the  Governn:ent,  and  it  seemed  to  me,  under  the 
circumstances,  open  to  purchase  or  adoption  by  our  Na- 
tional Legislature.     With  this  view  only,  I  had  sanctioned 
an  indirect  connection  with  your  movement,  feeling  that 
it  was  net  a  pecuniary  recompense,  but  a  direct  transac- 
tion, for  which  a  full  equivalent  was  extended  in  the 
work  itself     But  Mr.  Broadhead's*  letter  implies  that  I 
am  acting  with  you  to  carry  out  a  Congressional  act  of 
pecuniary  reward,  which  is  in  every  respect  repugnant 
to  my  instincts  as  a  gentleman  and  an  officer. 

"  The  late  Expedition  I  have  taught  myself  to  consider 
asameasureof  humanity;  and  I  cannot  forget  that,  what- 
ever it  may  have  done  for  mere  geography,  it  involved 


*  A  Senator,  at  that  time,  from  Pennsylvania,  who  did  not  surprise 
his  acquaintances  by  Lis  conduct  in  this  allair. 

16 


'3»», 


226 


ELISIIA   CENT    KANE. 


4 

i 


the  risk  not  only  of  my  own  life,  but  that  of  my  com- 
panions. It  gives  me  pain  to  look  back  upon  it;  one- 
sixth  of  our  little  party  perished  in  the  field,  and,  of  those 
who  survive,  a  majority  are  mutilated  or  broken  down. 
f  cannot  mingle  with  the  associations  of  this  cruise  any 
thing  so  degrading  as  that  of  a  pecuniary  recompense; 
and  I  can  only  trust  that  my  hard-earned  labors  will 
•  establish  their  own  and  best  claim  to  the  sympathy  and 
consideration  of  good  men.  An  honorary  testimonial 
would  have  gratified  me ;  but  even  that  I  now  desire  not 
to  have  mooted. — April  30,  '56." 

"  I  beg  of  you  to  leave  unmolested  the  action  of  Con- 
gress; for  this  coupling  of  my  name  with  the  book  will 
interfere  with  any  expression  of  disinterested  feeling  on 
the  part  of  the  Senate,  and  thus  stand  in  the  way  of  that 
which  I  value  far  beyond  either  books  or  money, — viz., 
an  honorary  testimonial  in  recognition  of  our  party,  and 
such  as  has  already  been  extended  to  me  by  England. 
—July  30,  '56." 

Mr.  Dobbin,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  his  annual 
report  of  3d  December,  1855,  speaks  of  the  cruise,  explo- 
rations, and  report,  in  the  following  language : — 

"It  was  well  known  that  Dr.  Kane  left  the  United 
States  in  the  humane  search  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  in 
June,  1853,  under  orders  from  the  Navy  Department, 
and  at  the  same  time  under  the  patronage  of  distinguished 
philanthropists.  His  report  is  brief,  but  full  of  startling 
incidents  and  thrilling  adventures.  A  more  detailed  and 
'.'laborate  report  will  ultimately  be  made.     The  discove- 


THE    secretary's    COMMENDATION.  227 

ries  made  by  this  truly  remarkable  man  and  excellent 
officer  will   be   regarded   as   valuable   contributions  to 
science.     He  advanced  in  those  frozen  regions  far  bevond 
his  intrepid  predecessors,  whose  explorations  had  excited 
such  admiration.     His  residence  for  two  years  with  his 
little  party  far  beyond  the  confines  of  civilization,  with 
a  small  bark  for  his  home,  fastened  with  icy  fetters  that 
defied  all  efibrts  for  emancipation,  his  sufferings  from 
intense  cold,  and  agony  from  dreadful  apprehensions  of 
starvation  and  death  for  that  space  of  time,-his  miracu- 
bus  and  successful  journey  in  open  sledges  over  the  ice 
for  eighty-four  days,~not  merely  excite  our  wonder,  but 
borrow  a  moral  grandeur  from  the   truly  benevolent 
considerations  which  animated  and  nerved  him  for  the 
task. 

"I  commend  the  results  of  his  expl^-ations  as  worthy 
of  the  attention  and  patronage  of  Congress." 

How  the  attention  and  patronage  of  the  Government 
acted  upon  these  "results"  has  been  seen:  those  of 
the  public  have  been  a  full  compensation.  "The  sym- 
pathy and  consideration  of  good  men,"  to  which  their 
author  appealed,  have  abundantly  supplied  the  plentiful 
lack  of  inspiration  under  which  the  responsible  function- 
aries of  the  Federal  Government  disposed  of  the  great 
claim. 

Even  the  extra  pay  and  emoluments  made  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Hke  rating  in  the  Exploring  Expe- 
dition  to  the  South  Seas,  and  granted  also  to  the  officers 
and  crow  of  the  De  Haven  Expedition,  have  never  yet 


•■im,.mi 


■ 


^    .^ 


228 


ELISHA   KENT    KANE. 


been  extended  to  the  poor  fellows  of  the  Kane  party. 
Who  is  responsible  for  this  excuseless  neglect  ? 

Mr.  Dobbin  handsomely  put  Dr.  Kane  on  full  pay 
while  he  was  engaged  in  writing  his  "more  detailed  and 
elaborate  report."  This,  indeed,  was  but  a  common 
grace,  dispensed  to  the  historians  of  all  the  national 
expeditions;  but  it  deserves  to  be  especially  acknowledged 
in  a  history  of  relations  to  the  Government  of  which  it 
is  the  single  example  of  a  personal  indulgence. 

Congress,  having  failed  at  its  first  session  after  his 
return  to  appropriate,  by  a  national  recognition,  the 
honors  he  had  won  for  his  country,  had  no  other  oppor- 
tunity for  repairing  the  neglect  till  after  his  death;  then 
a  gold  medal  was  ordered, — of  which,  I  believe,  nothing 
has  been  heard  since  the  passage  of  the  resolution. 

But  resolution*  duly  honoring  the  enterprise  and 
achievements  of  the  Expedition  were  unanimously  passed 
by  the  Legislatures  of  his  native  State,  Pennsylvania, 
and  by  those  of  New  Jersey  and  Maryland.  A  large 
gold  medal  was  voted  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York, 
which  was  not  finished  till  after  his  decease.  The  Royal 
Geographical  Society  of  London  gave  him  their  gold 
medal  and  an  honorary  membership.  The  Queen's 
medal,  designed  for  the  Arctic  explorers  and  searchers 
between  the  years  1818  and  1856,  was  presented;  and  a 
handsome  testimonial,  appropriately  and  specially  exe- 
cuted, was  given  to  him  by  the  British  residents  of  New 
York  City, 


CHAPTEE  XIIL 


KANE'S  SEA-THE  CHART-SUMMARY  OF  OPERATIONS-LAST  WILL- 
VOYAGE  TO  ENGLAND-HOPING  AGAINST  HOPE-RECEPTION  IN  LON- 
DON-LAST  LETTER-DISEASE  OP  THE  HEART-VOYAGE  TO  ST 
THOMAS-ON  HIS  WAY  TO  CUBA-ATTACK  OP  PARALYSIS-AT  HA- 
VANA-LONGING  FOR  HOME-LAST  SCENE  OF  ALL-HE  SLEEPETH- 
INTERPRETATION-CHURCH  RELATIONS-FREE-MASONRY-THE  OBSE- 
QUIES-LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS-LEARNED  SOCIETIES-ENGLISH 
TESTIMONIAL. 

The  narrative  of  the  book  was  finished,  as  we  have 
seen,  before  the  4th  of  July,  the  Appendix  at  the  close 
of  August,  and  the  work  was  published  in  September. 
The  chart  exhibiting  the  discoveries  of  the  Expedition 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  the  printer,  and  appeared 
in  all  the  copies  issued  before  Dr.  Kane's  departure  for 
England,  without  his  own  name  attached  to  any  of  the 
lands,   channels,   capes,   or    bays   which   it    embraced. 
Colonel  Force,  in  the  exercise  of  an  authority  held  by 
right  of  undisputed  pre-eminence  in  Arctic  science  and 
sound  discretion  in  the  distribution  of  the  honors  won 
in  its  service,  printed  the  words  Kane's  Sea  with  his 
own  hand  upon  a  copy  of  the  chart,  coveiing  the  large 

-'  "'^  ""'^^^   ""'^^^  i^^'«   Detween  ^smith's  Strait  and 

229 


IW^i 


230 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


f 


# 


Kennedy  Channel ;  and  the  publishers,  without  hesita- 
tion, altered  the  pla^e  accordingly. 

The  discoveries  and  surveys  embraced  in  the  chart 
are,  in  brief: — 

1.  Nine  hundred  and  sixty  miles  of  coast-line  de- 
lineated ;  which  was  effected  by  two  thousand  miles  of 
travel  o  i  foot  or  by  the  aid  of  dogs. 

2.  Greenland  traced  to  its  northern  face,  where  it  is 
connected  with  the  farther  north  of  the  opposite  coast  by 
the  Glacier  of  Humboldt. 

3.  The  survey  of  this  great  glacial  mass, — "the  mighty 
crystal  bridge  which  connects  the  two  continents  of 
America  and  Greenland," — sixty  miles  in  length. 

4.  The  discovery  and  delineation  of  the  coast-line  of 
"Washington  Land,  separated  from  the  American  land- 
masses  by  a  channel  of  but  thirty-five  miles  in  width, 
while  the  Great  Glacier  puts  at  least  sixty  between  it 
and  Greenland,  and  therefore  regarded  as  in  geographical 
continuity  with  the  American  continent. 

5.  The  discovery  and  delineation  of  a  large  tract  of 
land  forming  the  extension  northward  of  the  American 
continent. 

6.  The  discovery  of  a  large  channel  to  the  northwest, 
free  from  ice,  and  leading  into  an  open  and  expanding 
area  equally  free, — the  whole*  embracing  an  iceless  area 
of  four  thousand  two  hundrel  miles. 

Of  these  surveys  ho  speaks  in  this  confident  language, 
which  from  him  is  a  sufficient  assurance  that  they  will 
not  disappoint  the  utmost  reliance  which  thev  invito:— 


HIS  WILL. 


231 


"I  may  be  satisfied  now  with  our  projection  of  the  Green- 
land coast.  The  different  localities  to  the  south  have 
beer,  referred  to  the  position  of  our  winter  harbor,  and 
this  has  been  definitely  fixed  by  the  labors  of  Mr.  Sontag, 
our  astronomer.  We  have  therefore  not  only  a  reliable 
base,  but  a  set  of  primary  triangulations  which,  though 
limited,  may  support  the  minor  field-work  of  our  sextants." 

The  unrelenting  ice  that  forms  the  crystal  link  between 
the  known  and  the  unknown  Northern  seas,  thus  defi- 
nitely measured  and  delineated,  bears  the  name  of  its 
conqueror.  It  is  poetically  appropriate;  and  the  spon- 
taneous consent  of  the  world  awards  it. 

He  sailed  for  England,  "in  search  of  his  lost  blessing," 
in  the  steamer  Baltic,  on  the  10th  of  October,  1856, 
accompanied  by  the  faithful  Morton,  who  had  gone  with 
him  to  the  world's  end,  and  was  now  to  go  with  him  to 
the  end  of  his  life. 

Immediately  before  leaving  New  York,  he  made  his 
will.  He  was  at  the  time  entirely  unaware  of  the  large 
pecuniary  results  which  his  last  work  was  to  yield  to  its 
author.  His  expenditure  for  his  current  support,  and  in 
his  customary  liberal  givings  to  the  objects  of  his  charity 
.and  kindness,  left  him  nothing  which  may  be  very  well 
called  an  estate;  and  he  knew  not  at  the  time  that  he  had 
certainly  much  of  value  to  bequeath,  for  he  had  antici- 
pated  the  receipts  which  he  mi<^ht  confidently  rely  upon, 
and  only  felt  assured  that  the  expenses  of  his  proposed 
trip  to  Europe  were  handsomely  provided  for,  and  that 
he  was  not  in  danger  of  debt. 


iSi 


232 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


€ 


He  never  in  his  life  had  been  restricted  in  funds  for 
his  ordinary  or  necessary  uses,  and  only  felt  their  limit 
in  his  ardor  for  the  great  undertakings  of  his  geueroua 
ambition  and  the  indulgence  of  a  large-hearted  muni- 
ficence. 

It  is  because  the  world  will  be  glad  to  know  that 
poverty  was  not  among  his  heavy  burdens  that  this  piece 
of  very  private  history  is  given  to  it. 

On  the  voyage  to  Liverpool  an  ominous  change  in 
his  constitutional  habit  was  manifested :  he  was  not  sea- 
sick. This  strange  exemption  is  sadly  interpreted  to 
us,  by  the  issue,  to  indicate  the  strength  of  disease  over- 
mastering his  idiosyncrasy.  But  the  menacing  symptoms 
of  his  malady  were  perhaps  plain  enough  to  any  well- 
informed  judgment  not  controlled  by  affection  and  its 
hopefulness.  His  wonderful  tenacity  of  life — a  sort  of 
heroic  vitalitj^  of  his  system — had  so  often  restored  him 
from  hopeless  illnesses,  that  his  family,  who  knew  his 
case  best,  entertained  solacing  expectations  of  benefit 
from  the  voyage. 

His  father,  writing  to  Mr.  Grinnell  on  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, after  the  receipt  of  alarming  news  from  London, 
says : — 

"  I  need  not  say  to  you  how  heartfully  I  share  your 
fears,  and  how  grateful  we  all  are  for  Mrs.  Grinnell's 
sympathies  and  your  own.  But — I  hardly  know  why 
it  should  be  so — I  cannot  rid  myself  of  a  confidence  that 
our  son  will  be  spared  to  us.  I  have  waited  in  suspense 
for  weeks,  wbon  the  arniv  surireon's  letter  had  assured 


HOPING  AGAINST   HOPE. 


233 


me  that  he  must  die  before  morning  of  his  wounds  in 
Mexico.  I  have  heard  of  him  prostrate  and  hopeless 
with  the  fever  of  the  African  coast,  and,  before  that, 
with  the  plague;  I  have  twice  bidden  him  a  last  good- 
bye, when  he  sailed  upon  his  cruises  for  the  Arctic;  and 
but  little  more  than  a  year  ago,  when  he  was  fairly  out 
of  time,  I  gave  him  almost  up  for  ten  days  before  he 
reached  New  York.  And  now  I  cannot  realize  that  so 
noble  a  spirit,  so  well  tried  in  suffering  and  peril,  so  full 
of  love  and  fortitude  and  daring,  is  to  be  the  victim  of 
ordinary  disease.  I  cannot  but  hope,  and  trust  even,  that 
the  same  wise  and  beneficent  Providence  that  has 
shielded  him  so  often  and  so  manifestly  has  other  good 
work  for  him  to  do  among  his  fellow-men." 

Providence  has  otlm-  spheres  of  service  for  the  capable; 
and  a  good  man's  work  goes  on  in  this  one  after  his 
death,  as  the  seed  grows  while  the  husbandman  sleepeth; 
else  this  fond  trust  would  have  been  fulfilled  in  the  form 
which  our  human  hearts  craved. 

Dr.  Kane  himself  was  fiir  from  sanguine  of  his 
recovery;  yet,  after  his  manner  of  controlling  his  appre- 
hensions without  betraying  the  effort,  he  seemed  to 
enjoy  the  voyage.  Dr.  Betton,  of  Germantown,  who  was 
an  old  acquaintance,  and  now  his  fellow-passenger  in  the 
Baltic,  sa3  s  that,  "when  his  strength  would  permit,  he 
.seemed  to  rise  above  his  maladies  and  enj^y  all  around 
him,  contributing  his  share  to  the  general  happiness." 
Even  the  watchful  and  well-schooled  Morton  was  half 


•wo 


iwMnn 


J2S 


234 


ELISHA    KENT     KANE. 


i 
I 


deceived   bj  the  well-supported  aspect  of  cheerfulness 
habitually  worn  by  his  friend. 

They  reached  Liverpool  on  the  24th,  and  after  three 
days  went  to  London.  Of  his  brief  stay  in  the  city, 
(about  eight  days,)  Sir  Koderick  Murchison,  President 
of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society,  says: — "It  was  a 
subject  of  much  regret  to  me  that  when  Dr.  Kane  visited 
England  the  metropolis  (as  is  usual  at  that  season)  was 
not  inhabited  by  many  of  the  persons  who  most  valued 
his  character,  and  that  none  of  those  attentions  could 
then  be  paid  to  him  which,  had  his  stay  been  prolonged, 
would  doubtless  have  been  showered  upon  him,  from  the 
sovereign  downwards.  But,  alas!  the  hand  of  death 
was  already  upon  him ;  and,  when  I  had  the  honor  of  an 
interview,  I  at  once  saw  that  his  eagle  eye  beamed  forth 
from  a  wasted  and  all  but  expiring  body. 

"  As  geographers,  we  were  not,  however,  remiss  in  our 
endeavors  to  honor  him ;  and,  although  his  malady  pre- 
vented his  attendance  at  our  apartments  to  receive  our 
heartiest  welcome,  I  then  proposed  that  resolution  expres- 
sive of  our  admiration  of  his  conduct  which  you  passed 
with  acclamation,  and  which  was  communicated  to  him 
personally  by  our  lamented  President,  Admiral  Beechey." 

While  in  the  city  he  visited  the  office  of  the  Admi- 
ralty upon  invitation,  and  called  once  or  twice  upon 
Lady  Franklin  and  Mrs.  Sabine ;  but  the  fogs  of  London, 
60  thick  at  mid-day  that  the  street-lamps  were  invisible 
and  flambeaus  were  carried  before  the  carriages,  over- 


LAST    LETTER. 


235 


came  him:  he  grew  worse  rapidly.  Upon  the  kind  and 
hospitable  invitation  of  Mr.  Cross,  he  removed  to  his  resi- 
dence in  Camberwell,  about  four  miles  distant  from  the 
Thames,  where  he  remained  from  the  2d  till  the  17th 
of  November,  recovering  a  little  in  its  better  air,  but 
only  to  the  extent  that  enabled  him  to  dine  with  the 
family,  and  requiring  to  be  almost  carried  to  the  table. 

On  the  15th  he  wrote  the  letter  of  latest  date  from  his 
hand  which  I  have  seen.  It  is  addressed  to  his  friend 
and  frequent  medical  adviser,  Dr.  S.  W.  Mitchell,  of 
Philadelphia  :— 

"Mt  dear  Friend  Weir  .-—Perhaps  it  would  comfort 
our  dear  people  at  Pern  Rock*  if  you  would  mention 
that  I  have  seen  and  consulted  Dr.  Watson  with  Sir 
Henry  Holland.  The  former  ausculted  my  lungs  and 
pronounced  against  any  vice  other  than  the  cold  on  the 
chest  which  now  so  depresses  me.  My  inability  to  throw 
it  off  is  explained  by  my  extreme  want  of  power  and  this 
wretched  land  of  fogs. 

"They  all  urge  the  'exaltation'  of  vital  function  to  be 
expected  from  a  warmer  climate. 

"  Talk  over  this,  and  add  your  excellent  father  to  the 
consultation.  You  see  the  effort  with  which  I  write  this 
note :  I  wish  you  could  see  the  overflowing  kind  feelings 
to  you  and  yours  with  which  I  close  it. 

"  Your  friend, 

"  E.  K.  Kane. 

"London,  November  15,  1850." 


*  nis  father's  residence  near  Philadelphia. 


236 


ELISHA     KENT    KANE. 


l\  * 


i 

i 

f 
€ 


The  opinion  of  Dr.  Watson,  formed  probably  upon  a 
thorough  examination,  is  supported  by  that  of  Dr. 
Mitchell,  which,  however,  he  states  to  be  the  result  of 
a  single  exploration,  and  that  a  rather  slight  one,  or  at 
least  not  sufficient  to  warrant  a  confident  diagnosis. 

But  the  history  of  the  case,  running  through  a  period 
of  twenty  years,  without  depending  upon  the  results  of 
auscultation,  is  perhaps  sufficient  to  confirm  this  opinion. 

It  is  scarcely  conceivable  that  exercise  of  the  most 
violent  kind,  under  the  most  unfriendly  circumstances, 
would  be  practicable,  much  less  remedial,  in  a  case  of 
organic  disease  of  the  heart  so  considerable  as  it  must 
have  been  to  account  for  all  the  appearances. 

The  opinion  of  Dr.  Hayes  seems  to  offer  a  theory  that 
better  unites  and  explains  the  symptoms  manifested 
throughout  the  long  continuance  of  the  case.  It  consists 
well  enough  with  an  inordinate  volume  of  the  organ  and 
its  frequent  rheumatic  attacks,  while  it  denies  any  struc- 
tural derangement  greater  or  other  than  frequent  inflam- 
mation supposes ;  and  it  accounts,  besides,  for  their  inter- 
mitting character  and  for  the  symptoms— bellows-sound, 
palpitation,  and  difficult  respiration — by  ascribing  the 
paroxysms  to  serous  effiision  in  the  pericardium,  or  sack 
which  loosely  invests  the  heart ;  oppressing  and  disturb- 
ing its  action  until,  by  absorption,  or  whatever  process 
nature  employs  in  such  exigencies  for  working  her  own 
cures,  the  fluid  was  removed. 

The  facts  of  the  case  point  in  this  direction : — Quiet 
increased,  and  active  exertion  decreased,  his  liabilitv  to 


DISEASE    OF    THE    HEART. 


23T 


palpitation  and  dyspnoea.  The  surgeon  of  the  "Ad- 
vance"  was  called  frequently  during  the  winter  of 
1853-54  to  his  bedside,  to  find  him  suffering  with  these 
symptoms  without  any  apparent  cause  for  their  occur- 
rence. 

These  attacks  sometimes  happened  when  he  had  been 
for  hours  lying  in  his  bunk;  and  they  were  often  so 
violent  that  he  had  to  be  propped  up  with  pillows,  and 
so  protracted  that  they  threatened  a  fatal  issue.  But 
the  next  day  he  would  be  moving  about  with  his  accus- 
tomed alacrity,  not  hesitating  to  start  off  alone  upon  a 
two  hours'  walk  on  the  ice.  On  his  return  there  would 
be  no  reappearance  of  the  symptoms ;  and  never,  at  any 
time,  did  he  suffer  from  them  by  any  excitement  or 
exertion,  however  violent.  The  ordinary  rules  for  the 
management  of  a  patient  laboring  under  organic  disease 
of  the  heart  were  not  only  unsuited  to  his  case,  but  posi- 
tively injurious. 

His  experience  of  these  facts  clearly  warranted  the 
manner  of  life  to  which  his  impulses  prompted  him,  and 
the  maxim  "do  or  die"  was  with  him  a  physical  as  well 
as  a  moral  necessity. 

Nervous  excitability  was  a  marked  character  of  his 
temperament,  and  may  have  had  a  large  share  in  his 
chronic  ailments,  as  it  was  the  Torm  of  their  final  and 
fatal  exhibition;  but  the  opinion  of  his  case  which 
ascribes  his  cardiac  troubles  and  their  symptoms  to 
serous  effusion,  occurring  either  independently,  or  as  a 
result   and    resolution  of  a  rheumatic  affection  of  the 


"•"Hi 


•t 


238 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


£ 
C 


heart,  looks  like  the  better  explanation  of  the  anomalous 
symptoms  so  often  exhibited. 

On  arriving  ir.  London,  Dr.  Kane  had  thought  at  one 
time  of  going  to  Sicily,  at  another  to  the  South  of  France; 
but  Cuba  was  determined  upon,  as  equally  promising, 
and  nearer  home  in  the  event  of  requiring  its  consolar 
tions  under  disappointed  hopes  of  recovery.  On  the  17th 
of  November  he  left  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Mr.  Cross, 
and  went  down  by  rail  to  Southampton.  Mr.  Cornelius 
Grinnell  and  Mr.  Wood,  both  of  New  York,  came  down 
from  London  for  the  purpose,  and  saw  him  on  board  the 
Oronoco,  bound  for  St.  Thomas,  which  he  reached  on 
the  2d  of  December.  He  remained  there,  waiting  for  a 
passage  to  Cuba,  until  the  20th. 

Again  on  this  voyage  he  escaped  his  usual  sea-sickness. 
But  he  suffered  acutely  from  rheumatism  in  his  limbs, 
shifting  into  every  part  of  his  body.  At  St.  Thomas  he 
was  hospitably  entertained  by  Mr.  Swift.  He  was  able 
to  walk  from  room  to  room  in  the  house,  and  once  drove 
out  with  his  kind  host.  He  had  fever  here  nearly  every 
day,  and  suffered  greatly  from  night-sweats;  but,  upon 
the  whole,  he  was  considerably  improved  by  his  stay  on 
the  island,  and  this  advantage  of  the  climate  determined 
him  finally  to  continue  his  journey  to  Cuba.  He  had 
provided  himself  with  woollens  before  he  left  England, 
under  the  feeling  that  he  might  determine  to  go  direct 
from  St.  Thomas  to  the  United  States,  risking  the  cold- 
ness of  the  coast  to  get  home,  and  there  abide  the 
issue. 


ATTACK    OF    PARALYSIS. 


239 


On  the  20th,  in  the  evening,  he  sailed  for  Havana.    It 
was  blov^ing  a  half  gale  at  the  time,  and  the  sea  was 
boisterous.    The  next  day  he  complained  of  nausea  after 
breakfasting.     In  the   afternoon  he  slept,  and  Morton 
engaged  himself  in  "  overhauling  their  luggage."     While 
thus  employed,  the  doctor  waked  and  sat  up,  gazing  at 
him  for  a  moment  or  two,  then  lay  down  again,  and 
called  "Morton,"  in  a  thick  voice.     He  rioaned  as  in 
great  pain,  and  said  «yes"  when  he  was  asked  if  the 
ship's  physician  should  be  called.     When  he  came,  the 
doctor  said  to  him,  "Do   give  me   anodyne."     A  few 
minutes  after,  when  they  were  alone,  Morton  said  to  him, 
"  What  is  the  matter  ?  you  scare  me,  sir."    He  replied, 
"You  may  well  be  scared,  poor  fellow:  you  will  not  have 
me  to  trouble  you  long." 

About  twenty  minutes  after  saying  this,  Morton  dis- 
covered that  his  right  arm  and  leg  were  paralyzed.  He 
asked  him  what  this  meant ;  but  the  tongue  would  not 
do  Its  office.  He  was,  however,  conscious,  and  only  inca- 
pable  of  vocal  utterance.  By  the  24th  he  had  revived 
considerably ;  he  was  able  to  sit  up  with  support,  and 
looked  out  with  interest  upon  the  shore  of  Cuba,  which 
was  n'^w  in  sight. 

On  the  25th,  the  vessel  landed  at  Havana,  where  he 
was  received  by  his  brother  Thomas,  who  had  gone  out 
to  meet  him  there  as  soon  as  the  family  were  advised 
of  his  destination.  The  next  day  he  went  ashore,  and 
on  the  29th  was  reported  as  considerably  improved,— 
able  to  use  the  paralyzed  leg  n.«  well  as  the  other;  but 


'«<>,$ 


240 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


I 
I 


c 

mm 


Km  f 


the  arm  remained  powerless,  and  utterance  imperfect, 
yet  sufficing  for  the  simple  communication  of  his 
wants. 

On  the  7th  of  January,  his  mother  and  his  brother 
John  left  New  York  for  Havana.  They  arrived  on  the 
12th  or  loth.  His  mother,  having  been  exposed  to  the 
contagion  of  smallpox  immediately  before  leaving  home, 
abstained  from  seeing  him  for  four  or  five  days,  under 
fear  of  communicating  the  disease ;  but  after  that  time 
he  had  her,  his  two  brothers,  and  Mr.  Morton  in  con- 
stant attendance  upon  him  to  the  end. 

His  anxiety  to  get  home  was,  however,  but  little 
abated.  It  had  all  the  urgency  and  impatience  of  a  dying 
man's  longings.  He  was  quite  able  to  make  the  journey, 
he  could  stand  while  he  was  dressed,  could  walk  with 
but  little  support  to  a  chair;  he  could  ride  out  if  the 
day  were  but  favorable,  and  they  need  have  no  fears 
for  him! 

H*^  was  a  child  again  in  these  importunings.  He  had 
come  back  from  the  long  voyage  of  a  lifetime  to  his 
xuother's  knee,  with  all  the  pretty  little  ways  and  trivial 
troubles  of  the  nursery.  Heroism  had  not  hardened 
him ;  the  world  had  not  weaned  him  from  his  heart's 
dependency  upon  home  affections ;  and  his  very  inquiet- 
udes were  disguised  pleasures:  they  veiled  while  they 
indulged  his  overflowing  fondness. 

Every  day — two  or  three  times  every  day — he  must 
hear  the  words  of  life  from  the  lips  that  had  taught  his 
to  lisp  his  infant  prayer;  and,  if  Morton's  occupations 


LAST    SCENE  OF  ALL. 


241 


interrupted  her,  "Go  on,  mother:  never  mind  Morton," 
expressed  his  interest  and  its  impatience. 

A  month  by  the  calendar-^an  age  to  the  watchers-^- 
wore  away  in  this  manner,  and  they  were  ready  to  sail; 
but  the  weather  was  unfavorable,  and  the  journey  was 
postponed  till  the  next  steamer-day.  That  next  steamer 
brought  him— brought  his  corpse— to  his  country.  He 
had  left  it  for  "  that  undiscovered  country  from  whose 
bourn  no  traveller  returns." 

On  the  10th  of  February,  suddenly  and  without  warn- 
ing, he  was  seized  with  "  apoplexy,"— inaccurately 
described,  for  he  was  not  unconscious  nor  insensible; 
only  paralyzed,  with  the  power  of  emotional  expression 
left,  the  power  to  indicate  his  sympathies,  sufferings,  and 
wants. 

The  tenacious  vitality  of  his  frame  held  him  to  earth 
till  the  16th,*  and  then  released  him  so  gently  that  the 
Bible-reading  went  on  for  some  minutes  after  the  other 
watchers  had  been  made  aware  of  his  departure. 

When  death  invaded  the  little  family  at  Bethany  and 
struck  down  the  brother,  Jesus  said  to  his  disciples, 
"  Our  friend  sleepeth."  They  answered,  not  knowing 
what  they  said,  "  If  he  sleep,  he  shall  do  well."  They 
must  be  told  in  the  language  of  their  own  blindness, 
plainly,  «He  is  dead."  How  hard  it  is  for  mortal  man 
to  understand  the  proper  language  of  immortality !  And 
the  sister  (not  Mary,  who  had  loved  herself  into  the 


"to*"*! 


*  16th  of  February,  1857.     He  was  born  8d  February,  1820. 


16 


242 


ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


I 
I 


C 


secret  of  the  Savior's  life  long  before  his  disciples  divined 
it,  but  Martha,  the  worldling)  hoped  only  that  her 
brother  should  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  of  the  last 
day.  Jesus  said  unto  her,  "  I  am  the  resurrection  and 
the  life;  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall 
never  die.     Believest  thou  this  ?" 

Yet  at  the  grave  of  his  friend  He  wept !  Neither  Faith 
nor  Hope  forbids  the  griefs  of  Love  bereaved.  It  is  their 
office  to  heal,  not  to  harden,  the  heart.  They  sit  by  the 
just-opened  tomb,  as  Mary  saw  two  angels  in  white,  the 
one  at  the  head,  the  other  at  the  feet,  to  answer  the 
plaints  of  grief-blinded  aftection.  It  is  sown  in  cor- 
ruption.— It  is  raised  in  iucorruption  !  It  is  sown  in  dis- 
honor.— It  is  raised  in  glory!  It  is  sown  in  weakness. — 
It  is  raised  in  power!  It  is  sown  a  natural  body. — It  is 
raised  a  spiritual  body! 

Here  the  real  meets  the  actual,  the  true  confronts  the 
apparent,  and  Life  answers  the  argument  of  Death. 

One  of  the  incidents  of  these  last  days  of  lingering  in 
life  has  been  reported  and  received  as  an  act  of  Christian 
forgiveness  for  wrongs  he  had  suffered  and  was  still 
suffering  in  their  consequences.  I  owe  it  to  his  memory 
to  record  here  my  own  apprehension  of  it. 

He  had  settled  that  account  two  years  before,  forgiving 
then  what  was  to  be  forgiven,  and  accepting  what  was  to 
be  borne  without  blame  to  the  party  offending. 

It  was  the  indignation  and  threatened  revenges  of  his 
attendants  that  wakened  his  noble  heart  with  the  pang 
wlfioh    attented    hi".   consciouHnpss,  cloarno«H.  of  siDnrc- 


«> 


CHURCH    RELATIONS. 


243 


hension,  and  persistency  of  purpose  to  keep  the  peace 
he  had  made.  And,  when  his  best-loved  and  nearest 
cried  out,  "  Elisha,  I  will  forgive  them,"  his  smile  of 
satisfaction  was  not  the  clearance  of  his  own  heart  of  a 
grievance,  but  the  gladness  of  knowing  now  that  the 
hearts  where  his  image  must  rest  had  been  disburdened 
of  an  incongruous  feeling. 

He  settled  a  similar  trouJe  with  me,  for  the  same 
cause,  long  before ;  and,  if  I  know  any  thing  assuringly, 
I  know  that  he  did  not  trail  with  him  to  his  death-bed  a 
grievance  which  he  had  met  and  disposed  of  in  the  spirit 
of  manly  justice  and  Christiar  generosity  when  he  first 
encountered  it. 

The  history  of  these  la-st  days  is  given  here  with 
careful  reference  to  its  proper  effect.  Nothing  is  strained 
in  statement  or  colored  in  description  for  any  purpose 
or  to  any  end.  And  it  is  only  necessary  now  to  add  that 
no  clergyman  of  any  denomination  visited  him  at  Havana, 
and  that  he  never  held  membership  in  any  church  other 
than  that  by  birthright  and  baptism,  in  his  infancy,  in 
the  congregation  to  which  his  parents  belong,— the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia. 

It  is  proper  also  to  state  that  immediately  after  his 
return  from  his  last  Arctic  voyage  he  requested  his 
pastor,  (as  he  once  called  him,)  Rev.  C.  W.  Shields,  to 
make  public  thanksgiving  for  the  deliverance  of  the 
Expeditionists  from  the  perils  of  their  cruise,  attended 
the  service,  and  warmly  thanked  the  pastor  for  perform- 
ing it. 


244 


ELISHA   KENT    KANE. 


I 
I 


C 


ti 


He  had  requested  public  prayer  to  be  made  in  one  of 
the  churches  in  New  York  for  the  well-being  of  the  crew 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  enterprise,  before  he  set  out. 
He  was  prayed  for  by  name  in  one  at  least  of  the  Catholic 
churches  of  his  native  city  during  his  absence ;  and  he 
and  his  party  may  have  been  the  object  of  other  congre- 
gational supplication  and  thanksgiving  elsewhere. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  he  valued  at  its  highest  worth 
the  devotional  so!^icitude  of  all  men  for  .lis  welfare  who 
gave  it  in  the  spirit  which  makes  prayer  acceptable  to 
God  and  helpful  to  man. 

In  the  summer  of  1852  he  entered  the  Franklin  Lodge 
of  Free  Masons  in  Philadelphia. 

What  Masonry  meant  to  him  and  he  meant  by  it  is 
apparent  from  an  address,  evidently  extemporized,  on 
the  night  before  he  left  New  York  upon  his  last  Arctic 
voyage.  The  occasion  was  a  special  one,  having  re- 
ference to  his  enterprise  and  search  for  Sir  John 
Franklin,  who  was  a  brother  Mason.  The  whole  speech 
is  given  in  the  appendix  of  this  volume ;  but  we  call 
attention  to  an  extract,  now  that  we  are  on  the  subject 
of  his  religious  and  societary  connections,  for  the  illus- 
tration it  affords  of  his  character  in  this  aspect. 

Answering  the  address  from  the  Grand  Master,  he 
says : — 

"  With  regard  to  your  remarks  directly  associated 
with  my  name,  I  should  be  embarrassed  could  I  not 
refuse  to  believe  them  addressed  to  me  in  any  other 
capacitv  than   that   of  the    roDrosentativo   of  a   cause         H 


FRKTil-MASONRT. 


_^ 246 

which,  perhaps,  may  claim  to  associate  Christian  charity 
with  American  enterprise,— the  attempt  to  save  a  gal- 
lant officer  and  his  fellows  from  a  dreadful  death,  Avith- 
out  inquiring  whether  he  or  they  and  ourselves  are 
citizens  of  the  same  or  of  another  race,  or  clime,  or 
nation. 

"  Worshipful,  I  have  heard  upon  this  floor  to-night 
our  party  characterized  as  a  Masonic  expedition.  And 
is  it  not  this  ?  And  is  its  work  not  substantial  Masonry? 
Are  you,  sir,  or  you,  brothers,  here,  that  are  gathered 
around  me,— are  we  blindly  attached  to  this  or  that 
ritual  of  this  or  that  form  or  order  of  the  Masonic  insti- 
tution ?  Say,  is  it  not  rather  that  we  see  reflected  in 
Free  MaLonry  the  cause  of  free  brotherhood  throughout 
the  world,  and  that  our  signs  and  our  symbols,  our  tokens, 
legends,  and  passwords,  are  only  honorable  in  our  eyes, 
and  honored  because  they  are  a  language  in  which 
affection  can  securely  speak  to  sympathy,  and  humanity 
safely  join  hands  with  honor. 

"Brothers,  we  are  called  in  our  day,  perhaps,  to  make 
Masonry  what  it  should  be,— not  a  sectarian  society,  to 
garb,  or  rank,  or  enroll  men,  to  separate  them  from  their 
fellows,  but  a  bond  to  unite  the  good  and  true  in  a  com- 
mon union  for  the  common  defence  and  welfare  of  all 
who  are  good  and  true  men." 

To  the  "  Obsequies  of  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane,"  pre- 
pared for  publication  by  the  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Chandler, 
and  appended  to  this  narrative,  I  am  glad  to  refer  for  all 

that  can  ho  dnpn  h^  vannM  fViQ  4»:Im'-^£&  -%r  — I- •  ■>    ' 

—  —  — i —  „ |"_-t  t  Liit  muuie  01  nurixjvv  paia  oy 


246 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


1 


t 
t 


his  country  to  his  remains  through  their  long  journey 
to  their  final  resting-place. 

The  recollection  of  my  readers  needs  not  to  be  re- 
freshed :  they  were  witnesses,  they  were  the  mourners,  of 
that  national  procession ;  and  they  have  it  by  heart, 
richer,  fresher,  better  than  my  pen  could  portray  it. 

The  newspapers  and  journals  of  the  day  echoed  the 
general  mourning  of  the  public ;  the  pulpits  responded 
to  the  common  feeling  of  the  worshippers;  and  the  Le- 
gislatures of  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Massachusetts, 
Ohio,  New  Jersey,  and  other  States,  adopted  resolutions 
expressive  of  the  national  feeling  which  honored  his  life 
and  mourned  his  death.  The  flags  of  the  capitols  were 
ordered  at  half-mast;  and  the  municipal  governments  of 
all  the  principal  cities  of  the  Union  united  in  corre- 
sponding testimonies  of  respect. 

The  Philosophical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  ordered 
his  portrait  to  be  painted  for  their  hall,  and  appointed 
Professor  A.  Dallas  Bache,  one  of  their  Vice-Presidents, 
to  prepare  a  memoir  for  publication.  The  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  learned 
societies  of  the  Union  generally,  joined  in  their  several 
appropriate  v/ays  in  commemorating  his  wort})  and 
services.  Dr.  Hawks,  President  of  the  Geographical 
Society  of  New  York,  pronounced  a  eulogy  upon  him 
before  that  body ;  and  the  venerable  Dr.  Francis  paid  a 
similar  tribute  in  behalf  of  the  Medical  Society  of  that 
city.  The  Royal  Geographical  Society  of  London, 
through  their  Presidents  cravo  the  heartiest  evpreHsion. 


ENGLISH    TESTIMONIAL, 


247 


of  their  appreciation  of  him  as  a  man  and  an  explorer. 
A  page  from  this  eulogy  must  conclude—without  in  any 
adequate  degree  completing— the  summary  of  the  tributes 
laid  upon  his  tomb.  Sir  Koderick  Murchison  closes  his 
review  of  the  life  and  achievements  of  their  medallist 
and  honorary  member  thus : — 

" '  The  long  procession  of  mourners,  (as  it  is  written 
in  the  Philadelphia  Evening  Journal  of  March  12,)  the 
crowded  yet  silent  streets  through  which  they  move,  the 
roll  of  muffled  drums,  the  booming  of  minute-guns,  the 
tolling  of  passing  bells,  the  craped  flags  at  half-mast,  and 
all  the  solemn  pageantry  of  the  scene,  proclaim  that  it  is 
no  ordinary  occasion  which  has  called  forth  these  im- 
pressive demonstrations  of  public  respect.' 

"Agreeing  entirely  with  this  eloquent  writer,  that  few 
men  have  ever  lived  who  have  earned  a  better  title  to 
the  admiration  of  his  race,  and  also  warmly  commend- 
ing to  your  notice  the  sentiment  proceeding  from  a  great 
commercial  city  of  our  kinsmen,  '  that  we  are  not  to  look 
to  the  mere  utilitarian  value  of  Dr.  Kane's  labors  and 
adventures  for  the  claim  to  that  bright  and  unfading 
glory  which  must  ever  surround  his  name,'  let  me  say 
that,  by  re-echoing  the  voice  of  America  on  this  occa- 
sion, England  can  best  cherish  the  memory  of  one  who 
dared  and  did  so  much  to  rescue  her  lost  navigators. 

"  Having  thus  imperfectly  glanced  at  the  feats  which 
our  deceased  medallist  accomplished  in  the  short  hfe- 
thue  of  thirty-seven  years,  unu.r  the  impulses  of  hu- 
— i.--j  .i,K,  rviLii^t,  1  Lttiinui  otiiui  sum  Up  iiiH  virtues 


MkxJi 

a-: 


248 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


than  in  the  words  of  the  divine*  who  preached  the 
funeral  sermon  over  his  bier.  *He  has  traversed  the 
planet  in  its  most  inaccessible  places,  has  gathered  here 
and  there  a  laurel  from  every  walk  of  physical  research 
in  which  he  strayed,  has  gone  into  the  thick  of  perilous 
adventure,  abstracting  in  the  spirit  of  philosophy  yet 
seeing  in  the  spirit  of  poesy,  has  returned  to  invest  the 
very  story  of  his  escape  with  the  charms  of  literature 
and  art,  and,  dying  at  length  in  the  morning  of  his  fame, 
is  now  lamented  with  mingled  affection  find  pride  by  his 
country  and  the  world.' " 


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CHAPTER  XIV. 

PERSONAL  DESCRIPTION-SOCIAL  BEARING-SPIUIT-POWEU-PORTRAITS 
-HYPERTROPHY-KINDNESS  FOR  ANIMALS-GUN-MURDER-DOO- 
PEOPLE— MAN  AND  BEAST- GODFREY— NORTH  BRITISH  REVIEW- 
WITHDRAWING  PARTY-MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS-TOODLA-MIK- 
TASTES  AND  ANTIPATHIES-NOVELS  AND  PLAYS-PROSE-POETRY 
—MENTAL  METHOD— MEDICAL  SKEPTICISM-BENEFITS  OF  THE  STUDY 
-GOVERNING-POWER-THE  OUTSIDE  PASSAGE-ROUTINE  aND  OR- 
GANIZATION-ESQUIMAUX  ALLIES-FONDNESS  FOR  CHILDREN-JUS- 
TICE  TO  SUBORDINATES-ALL  ELSE  SUBMITTED-THE  END. 

Dr.  Kane  was  five  feet  six  inches  in  height:  in  his 
best  health  he  weighed  about  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  pounds.     He  had  a  fair  complexion,  with  soft  brown 
ban-.     His  eyes  were  dark  gray,  with  a  wild-bird  light  in 
them  when   his   intellect   and  feelings  were  in  genial 
flow;  when  they  were  in  the  torrent-tide  of  enraptured 
action,  the  light  beamed  from  them  like  the  flashing  of 
scimetars,  and  in  impassioned   movement  they  glared 
frightfully.     All  these  phases  might  be  displayed  within 
the  selfsame  hour  that  he  had  laid  his  head  upon  his 
sister's  knee,  and  in  a  cooing  voice,  soft  as  the  music  of 
feeling  could  make  it,  said,  "Pet  me,  Bessie;  love  me, 

249 


I 


250 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


•hi,, 

c 


In  company,  when  the  talk  ran  glib  and  everybody 
would  be  heard,  he  was  silent,  but  tense  and  elastic  as 
a  steel-spring  under  pressure.  He  had  a  way  of  looking 
attentive,  docile,  and  interested  as  a  child's  fresh  wonder; 
but  no  one  would  mistake  the  expression  for  the  admi- 
ration of  inexperience  or  incapacity;  yet  it  cheated 
many  a  talker  into  a  self-complaisance  that  lost  him  his 
opportunity  of  learning  something  of  the  man  which  he 
wanted  to  know.  This  was  the  thing  in  his  demeanor 
which  people  call  his  reserve:  the  reserve  of  absorbed 
attentiveness  he  had;  but  there  was  nothing  of  strained 
reticence  in  his  manner. 

An  Irishman  would  not  think  him  a  humorist,  nor 
would  a  Frenchman  call  him  a  wit;  a  Yankee  would 
give  him  a  high  character  for  both;  an  Englishman  would 
call  him  clever, — leaving  you  to  guess  what  that  might 
mean ;  and  almost  anybody  who  met  him  in  the  intervals 
given  to  easy  intercourse  would  say  that  he  was  a 
delightful  social  companion. 

He  was  shy  of  the  probe :  he  shrank  like  a  sensitive- 
plant  from  any  rude  ransacking  of  his  sanctuary  of 
feeling  and  opinion ;  but  his  caution  was  not  cowardly. 
He  only  would  not  be  nipped ;  and  he  had  skill  enough 
among  the  hummocks  and  slush  of  society  to  find  his 
own  lead  and  keep  an  even  keel.  He  was  a  gentleman, 
and  had  absolute  possession  of  himself. 

Idle  curiosity  never  made  any  thing  of  him,  and  he  did 
nothing  at  gossip ;  but  inquiry  with  an  aim  was  never 
disappointed.     Sitting  one  day  at  his  father's  table,  after 


R:l| 


SPIRIT-POWER. 


251 


his  return  from  his  last  Expedition,  some  one  closed  the 
narrative  of  a  dangerous  adventure  with  the  words,  «I 
never  encountered  any  thing  so  awful  in  my  life."  The 
doctor  had  been  for  an  hour  silently  attentive  to  all  that 
was  said.  At  this  point  one  of  the  guests  turned  i;o 
him  and  asked,  "What  is  the  most  awful  thing  that  y(m 
ever  experienced  ?"  His  face  took  a  devotionally  deep 
expression;  and  he  answered,  "The  silence  of  the  Arctic 
night!" 

His  answer  might  pass  for  sentiment,  poetry,  or  worship, 
as  you  would  receive  it.  His  company  read  it  to  their 
own  several  depths,  and  all  so  far  aright;  for  his 
character  lay  in  him  in  concentric  rings,  all  concurring 
and  all  according,  and  you  could  have  it  in  your  own 
measure. 

A  vein  was  opened  here;  and  after  dinner,  alone  with 
him,  I  asked  him  for  the  best-proved  instance  that  he 
knew  of  the  soul's  power  over  the  body,— an  instance 
that  might  push  the  hard-baked  philosophy  of  material- 
ism to  the  consciousness  of  its  own  idiocy.     He  paused 
a  moment  upon  my  question,  as  if  to  feel  how  it  was  put, 
and  then  answered,  as  with  a  spring,  "  The  soul  can  lift 
the  body  out  of  its  boots,  sir.     When  our  captain  was 
dying,— I  say  dying:  I  have  seen  scurvy  enough  to  know, 
—every  old  scar  in  his  body  was  a  running  ulcer.     If 
conscience  festers  under  its  wounds  correspondingly,  hell 
is  not  hard  to  understand.     I  never  saw  a  case  so  bad 
that  either  lived  or  died.     Men  die  of  it  usually  long 
before  they  are  as  ill  as  he  was.     There  was   trouble 


'"•It 


252 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


fw 


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aboard  :  there  might  be  mutiny.  So  soon  as  the  breath 
was  out  of  his  body  we  might  be  at  each  others'  throats. 
I  felt  that  he  owed  even  the  repose  of  dying  to  the  ser- 
vice. I  went  down  to  his  bunk,  and  shouted  in  his  ear, 
'Mutiny,  captain!  mutiny!'  He  shook  off  the  cadaveric 
stupor:  'Set  me  up,'  said  he,  'and  order  these  fellows 
before  me.'  He  heard  the  complaint,  ordered  punish- 
ment, and  from  that  houv  convalesced !  Keep  that  man 
awake  with  danger,  and  he  wouldn't  die  of  any  thing  till 
his  duty  was  done." 

Keader,  if  there  is  a  curl  on  your  lip  now,  turn  over 
another  page:  this  story  is  not  for  you.  The  doctor 
with  his  eye  on  you  would  not  have  made  the  mistake 
of  throwing  such  a  pearl  under  your  feet. 

The  most  fatal  prognostic  of  the  doctor's  own  last 
illness  was  that  he  said  to  Mrs.  Grinnell,  as  he  was 
going  on  board  the  Baltic  for  England,  "  I  cannot  say 
that  I  will  come  back  to  you  this  time." 

But  we  were  talking  of  his  personal  make  and  quali- 
ties. To  my  eye  he  was  as  handsome  as  the  finest  com- 
bination of  form,  features,  expression,  and  action  could 
make  a  man.  His  profile  portrait  in  his  last  work — not 
the  full-face  on  our  first  page — presents  him  as  he  was 
best  seen.  They  are  both  as  true  as  art  could  make 
them;  but  if  you  loved  the  man  you  would  see  the 
reason  for  it  clearest  in  the  one  we  prefer. 

His  fine  head  (a  feature  never  wanting  in  a  fine 
character)  was  so  well  set,  nnd  his  chest  was  so  large, 
that,  as  a   perfectly  proportioned   miniature   gives   the 


HYPERTROPHY. 


253 

impression  of  full  size,  one  never  felt  in  his  presence  any 
deficiency  in  his  stature. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  from  sixteen  years  of  a-e  he 
was  reported  by  medical  men  to  be  laboring  under  hyper- 
trophy  of  the  lieart,-a  term  of  art  meaning  excess  of 
nourishment,  and  consequently  increase  of  volume  in 
the  organ,  and  that  increase  usually  im^^lying  disease  in 
its  muscular  tissue. 

Dr.  Jackson,  of  the  Pennsylvania  University,  who  was 
on.  of  the  earliest  and  ablest  of  our  physicians  who  fol- 
lowed  Laennec  in  his  method  of  exploring  the  chest,  is 
perhaps  responsible  for  this  opinion ;  but  he  tells  a  curious 
story  about  this  case  now.     He  was  in  Paris  some  years 
smce,  and,  observing  that  the  statue  of  Julius  Ca3sar  gave 
a  smiilar  conformation  of  the  chest,  remarked  toayoun- 
friend  who  was  with  him,    "Ca)sar  had  hypertrophy" 
The  fi-iend  said,  "No:  on  historical  authority  you  are 
wrong."    Soon  after  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  in  com- 
pany  Avith  the  same  young  gentleman  he  one  day  met 
Dr.  Kane  in  the  street,  was  struck  with  the  resemblance, 
and  called  the  young  gentleman's  attention  to  it.     But 
upon  subsequent  reflection  he  yields  his  earlier  opinion, 
and  is  rather  inclined  now  to  ascribe  the  thoracic  fulness 
of  both  cases  to  a  disproportionately  large  heart,  without 
referring  either  to  any  diseased  change  of  size  or  Ibrm. 

No  post-mortem  examination  was  made  in  the  case 
under  consideration ;  and  we  have  none  of  the  facts  which 
It  would  have  aiforded  for  the  settlement  of  this  very 
curious  question. 


it-*!* 


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ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


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Dr.  Kane  w«is  a  marksman,  a  brilliant  horseman,  and 
a  first-rate  pedestrian.  Foot-tramps,  and  the  chase  with- 
out the  usual  relish  for  its  accompaniments,  were  a  pas- 
sion with  him.  Horses  and  dogs  were  something  more 
than  pets  and  indulgences  to  him;  for,  much  as  he 
enjoyed  the  exercise  and  excitement  of  the  forest  and 
field,  he  was  tender  to  the  objects  and  instruments  of  the 
chase  to  an  extent  that  verged  on  sentimentalism;  but 
there  was  nothing  of  this  in  his  composition. 

His  attachment  to  dogs  and  horses  was  a  strongly 
marker"!  feature  in  his  character.  He  called  them  by 
their  given  names  always,  with  a  feeling  which  kindly, 
almost  respectfully,  accorded  to  them  their  poor  claims 
to  a  distinct  individuality,  if  not  personality,  with  its 
incident  rights  and  the  resulting  relations  with  their 
masters  and  among  themselves.  In  his  journal  of  "The 
First  Grinnell  Expedition"  he  seems  to  have  been  the 
expertest  hunter  of  the  party;  yet  almost  as  frequently 
as  the  incidents  of  this  service  are  recorded,  some  protest 
is  uttered,  indicating  the  activity  of  this  sentiment  of  fel- 
lowship and  sympathy  with  the  birds  and  beasts  "  slaugh- 
tered," as  he  styles  their  killing,  under  necessity  of  an 
overruling  humanity  towards  his  patients  among  the 
crew  needing  such  anti-scorbutic  diet. 

There  are  two  instances  of  seal-shooting,  or,  as  he  calls 
it,  giin-murder,  (at  pages  221  and  232  of  that  volume,) 
which  would  help  the  reputation  of  Sterne  himself 
for  tenderness  and  beauty  of  sentiment,  and  would 
have  given   him,  moreover,   as   good   a  personal  cha- 


KINDNESS    FOR    ANIMALS. 


255 


racter,  if  he  had  had  the  honesty  and  earnestness  of 
our  author. 

The  diction  of  these  passages,  it  must  be  noticed,  is 
used  to  dash  the  confession  with  a  little  of  that  evasive 
deference  for  unsympathizing  criticism  to  which  publica- 
tion exposed  the  sentiment.     But  it  is  plain  enough  that 
the  gentle  gentleman  hoped  somebody  would  find  his 
feeling  under  its  cover,  and  be  encouraged  in  kindliness 
to  the  jpoor  leasts.     Moreover,  there  is  nothing  in  it  cf 
the  floridness  of  parade  sentimentalism.     The  languao-e 
has  the  very  tone  of  conscious  misdemeanor  in  °it  :1 
"Scurvy  and  sea-life  craving  for  fresh  meat  led  me  to  it," 
-the  commonplace  of  the  police-office  justifying  mis- 
conduct  by  the  plea  of  a  beggarly  necessity. 

In  the  year  1848, 1  ihink  it  was,  the  elephant  on  exhi- 
bition at  the  Philadelphia  circus  killed  his  keeper,  and 
went  on  a  spree  generally  in  the  menagerie,  making  a 
general  jail-delivery  among  the  tiger  and  lion  cages,  with 
such  zeal  that  he  broke  one  of  his  tusks  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  day.     The  alarm  roused  the  police,  and  the 
Mayor  ordered  out  a  company  of  muskets  to  kill  the 
enraged  animal.     Dr.  Kane  lieard  the  rumor,  and  went 
into  the  excitement,  but  in  his  own  way.    "  The  cowardly 
tyrants,"  he  exclaimed,  "  to  call  the  elephant  mad !     An 
animal  with  the  intelligence  of  an  elephant  has  a  right 
to  be  iudhjnant:  that's  the  word  for  it.     He  has   b^en 
outraged  by  a  brute  with  less  than  his  own  intellect,  and 
"othing  of  his  sense  of  right;  and  now  he  must  be  mur- 
ilered  to  check  his  just  revenge!" 


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256 


ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


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# 


But  he  had  no  contempt  for  any  of  God's  creatures, — 
not  even  for  men  in  the  depth  of  their  debasement.  To 
a  friend  who  was  patting  a  dog  after  he  had  been  abusing 
some  of  the  lowest  and  loathsomest  of  our  own  species 
and  the  tulprit-side  of  human  nature  generally,  he  said, 
"I  like  your  kindliness  to  the  poor  dog-people:  I  have 
that  feeling  more  than  moderately  strong  myself;  but 
I  never  saw  a  man  who  Avas  not  higher  than  a  dog." 
This  was  after  he  had  seen  humanity  in  its  lees  in  every 
quarter  of  the  globe. 

He  was  not  incapable  of  taking  human  life  for  cause 
requiring  it.  He  held  it  at  a  much  lower  value  than  the 
rights,  dignities,  and  liberties  which  belong  to  it.  These 
he  scrupulously  respected  in  all  his  actions  and'  utter- 
ances. It  was  indeed  a  reverence,  as  for  a  sacred  thing, 
which  he  gave  to  the  majesty  of  manhood  and  to  its 
proj^er  defences :  he  never  indulged  even  in  irony,  and 
was  as  incapable  of  detraction  as  of  petty  larceny.  He  was 
always  thoughtful — carefully  thoughtful — of  his  action 
and  influence  upon  the  minds  of  those  around  him. 

He  sent  a  bullet  after  the  deserter  Godfrey,  "  at  long 
but  practicable  dir^tance," — whether  with  the  purpose  of 
executing  summary  justice  upon  him,  or  not,  is  not  clear, 
much  less  conclusive,  in  the  circumstances  j  and  the  state- 
ment by  no  means  supports  the  severest  construction  of 
which  it  is  capable,  for  he  was  not  the  man  to  propitiate 
illiberal  criticism.  IJut  tak«i  it  that  he  did  not  count 
upon  the  chances  of  a  long  distance  and  a  spent  ball,  and 
that  his  aim  failed  his  purpose;  then  recollect  that  he 


NORTH    BRITISH    REVIEW. 


257 


afterwards  brought  the  delinquent  a  prisoner  to  the  brig, 
at  the  expense  of  a  desperate  journey  of  one  Iiundred 
and  forty  miles,  when  Bonsall,  Petersen,  and  himself  were 
the  only  men  on  board  capable  of  working  for  the  rest; 
and  is  it  not  plain  that  his  motive  is  found  in  his  duty 
to  prevent  the  ruinous  intluence  which  the  wretched 
fellow  would  exert  over  the  Esquimaux  at  Etah,  upon 
whose  friendly  ofTices  the  crew  under  his  command  and 
care  at  the  time  depended  for  their  very  existence  ?=•' 

Governed  by  a  magnanimous  deference  for  other  men's 
rights,  which  was  not  a  weakness  or  a  factitious  senti- 
ment, but  a  ruling  principle,  with  him,  ho  was  heroically 
patient  and  forbearing  towards  those  whone  defection  in 
the  hour  of  his  sorest  need  put  his  goodness  and  great- 
ness of  heart  to  the  severest  proof. 


*  It  is  worthy  of  notice  here,  (hat  of  more  than  a  thousand  reviews 
of  Ills  book,  the  North  British  Review  is  the  only  journal  that  has  found 
fault  with  his  conduct  in  this  affair — or  in  any  other.  And  it  is  just  as  re- 
niarkablo  that  this  reviewer  suppresses  the  justifying  reason,  the  impo- 
rativo  necessity,  in  his  statement  of  the  case.  I  say  suppresses,  for  ho 
quotes  every  thing  else  in  the  passage  which  contains  it,  as  by  a  careful 
soloction.  Dr.  Kane's  language  is,  'aicnrned,  too,  that  Godfrey  was 
phiying  the  great  man  at  Etah,  defyin-;  recapture;  and  I  was  not  xdlUng 
to  (rust  the  iiijiucnce  he  mijht  exert  on  my  relations  with  the  tribe."  Tlio 
reviewer  has  it,  '< Godfrey  was  at  Etah  with  the  Esquimaux;  and  the 
moment  Dr.  Kano  heard  it  he  resolved  'that  he  should  return  to  the 
ship.' "  The  writer,  in  every  particular  of  his  censorious  strictures,  was 
eviiL  i{\\  ;u  the  condition  of  a  man  who  does  not  see  what  he  neither 
undersf.nds  nor  desires  to  find  iu  the  case  before  him,  however  plain  it 
may  be  to  everybody  else. 

17 


41 


m 


258 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


ft 
I- 

c: 


Turn  to  the  first  volume  of  his  second  voyage,  at  pages 
83  and  348;  estimate  the  pressure  of  the  conditions  in 
which  he  was  placed ;  and  then  look  where  you  will  for 
an  equally  imposing  exhibition  of  generous  justice. 

He  was  not  a  coward ;  he  could  bear  all  his  own  bur- 
dens :  he  was  not  an  egotist,  and  did  not  pile  censure 
upon  otlier  people's  heads  to  save  his  own. 

In  wo3'k,  exercise,  and  mental  application,  he  was 
intense,  and,  therefore,  not  systematic.  He  was  remark- 
able not  only  for  getting  along  with  very  little  sleep,  but 
for  irregularity  also  in  its  indulgence.  He  was  as  httle 
as  possible  subject  to  habit  or  periodicity;  and  he  seemed 
rather  to  engineer  his  faculties  by  his  will  than  to  give 
up  .my  of  his  conduct  to  the  rule  of  custom.  He  fought 
hard  for  his  freedom  from  himself,  and,  resultingly,  he  had 
always  at  coirmand  a  loose  foot,  a  free  hand,  and  stood 
in  ready  adjustment  to  exigencies.  He  conformed  to 
usages  for  convenience'  sake,  without  any  struggling,  but 
without  any  submission ;  and,  having  no  imperious  neces- 
sities of  hib  own,  he  had  no  conflict  with  those  of  other 
people. 

Whether  he  retired  early  or  late,  he  rose  early,  taking 
long  walks  before  breakfast  when  no  pressure  of  engage- 
ments threw  him  out.  But  when  he  had  something  on 
hand  which  must  be  done  to  time, — as  writing  his  last  book, 
— he  worked  till  three  in  the  morning,  and  then  took 
out  the  tuck  of  the  long  constraint  and  relieved  himself 
of  its  weariness  by  a  dashing  ride  of  five  or  six  miles,  or 
by  cracking  his  dog- whips  in  the  yard  for  an  hour  or  two, 


^^i 
kf 


TOODLA-MIK. 


259 


-—whips  with  lashes  from  sixteen  to  thirty-three  feet 
long,  which  not  one  man  in  a  thousand  could  unfold;  but 
he  could  crack  them  like  a  pistol.  They  were  the  whips 
used  in  driving  his  Esquimaux  dog-teams. 

And  what  a  wild  carouse  old  Toodla-mik,  the  leader 
of  his  Arctic  sledge-hacks,  would  have  with  him  in  the 
frosty  mornings  of  their  last  winter's  fellowship !  It  was 
a  rough  communion,  and  not  quite  a  complete  one. 
Toodla  was  an  -Injin,"  every  inch  of  him,— hyena, 
wolf,  and  slave  in  a  mixture,— fierce  as  the  boldest 
of  the  t/Npes,  and  cowardly  and  treacherous  as  the 
worst. 

At  the  first  call  he  would  look  out  of  his  kennel  and 
hesitate  a  moment;  then,  without  the  usual  all-hail  of  the 
civilized  canine,— for  he  had  not  learned  to  bark,— with  a 
bound  he  was  upon   the  doctor's  shoulders,  looking  a 
sneaking  compound  of  felony  ai'd  fondness.    Then  for  the 
play:  the  whip  was  the  attraction,  not  the  compulsion. 
It   looked  Arctic  and   Esquimaux  enough   to  see  him 
springing  like  mad  to  receive  the  lash  wherever  it  fell; 
no  fear  of  the  crackei-.     There  was  no  place  exposed  to 
it  except  the  eyes,  nose,  and  fore-feet.     Under  defence  of 
such  a  coat  of  hair,  nothing  but  a  cudgel  could  reach  his 
sensibilities. 

Toodla  had  his  virtues,  whether  he  intended  them  or 
not.  He  had  rendered  services  made  high  and  noble  by 
their  appropriation.  His  name  is  connected  with  many 
memories  which  will  not  soon  perish;  and  he  stands  now, 
liisown  monument,  preserved  in  that  Westminster  Abbej' 


*■*» 
■   « 

mm. 


260 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


€ 

K 


C 


of  representative  animals,  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 

In  personal  habits  Dr.  Kane  was  nice  even  to  dainti- 
ness ;  temperate  and  delicate  in  diet,  and  abstinent  from 
wine  as  a  beverage,  taking  it  only  as  a  form  of  table  or 
social  courtesy,  nor  then,  if  refusal  would  cost  less  than 
compliance.  He  had  a  horror  of  tobacco  in  all  its  forms. 
When  a  friend  defended  its  use  with  the  remark,  "  Its  cost 
is  trivial,  a  mere  nothing,"  he  retorted,  "But  what  does 
your  tobacco-function  cost  your  body,  and,  per  conBe- 
quence,  the  agent  within?" 

His  intellectual  tastes  expressed  his  character  and 
conformed  to  it.  He  was  not  a  novel-reader;  and  for  the 
stage  he  had  no  relish.  "The  theatre,"  he  says,  "has 
always  been  to  me  a  wretched  simulation  of  realities; 
and  I  have  too  little  sympathy  with  the  unreal  to  find 
pleasure  in  it  long."  His  favorite  books  are  in  the  ice  of 
Smith's  Sound :  they  modified  him  less  than  they  enter- 
tained him. 

In  fifteen  hundred  pages  of  book-matter,  he  never 
makes  a  quotation  to  assist  himself  in  expression,  except 
one  from  Bunyan;  and  even  that  is  used  for  its  allegori- 
cal effect  as  much  as  for  its  beauty  and  power. 

He  wrote  his  own  poetry  in  the  higher  form  of  prose : 
for  two  instances  out  of  many  hundreds,  read  the  fol- 
lowing gems,  wrenched  as  they  are  from  their  exquisite 
settings : — 

"  I  am  afraid  to  speak  of  some  of  these  night-scenes. 
I  have  trodden  the  deck  and  the  floes  when  the  life  of 


PROSE-POETr.Y. 


261 


earth  seemed  suspended, — its  movements,  its  sounds,  its 
coloring,  its  companionships;  and  as  I  looked  on  the 
radiant  hemisphere,  circling  above  me  as  if  rendering 
worship  to  the  unseen  Centre  of  light,  I  have  ejaculated, 
in  humility  of  spirit,  '  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  art 
mindful  of  him?'  And  then  I  have  thought  of  the 
kindly  world  we  had  left,  with  its  revolving  sunshine 
and  shadow,  and  the  other  stars  that  gladden  it  in  their 
changes,  and  the  hearts  that  warmed  to  us  there,  till  I 
lost  myself  in  memories  of  those  who  are  not ;  and  they 
bore  me  back  to  the  stars  ai:;ain." 

He  finds  a  poppy,  green  under  seven  feet  of  snow. 
A  lucidly  simple  explanation  of  its  securities  in  a  climate 
that  runs  down  to  50°  below  zero  warms  his  fancy  into 
poetic  sympathy  with  its  delicate  life  : — "  No  eider-down 
in  the  cradle  of  an  infmt  is  tucked  in  more  kindly  than 
the  sleeping-dress  of  winter  about  this  feeble  flower-life." 

His  logic  was  nothing  akin  to  the  legal  method  of  rea- 
soning. It  was  amusing  to  hear  him  answer  a  lawyerly ' 
argument  which  had  run  away  from  the  sharply 
severe  sequence  and  drift  of  the  fiicts  involved, — "I 
don't  understand  you."  An  edifice  of  assumption  and 
generalities  went  down  under  his  touch  like  a  card 
house,  however  systematically  built.  His  demand  upon 
his  interlocutor  was,  "  What  do  you  know  ?"  and  his 
reservation  seemed  to  be,  "  I  can  do  my  own  thinking." 

Nor  was  his  method  merely  the  analogical,  although 
it  was  chiefly  by  contrast  and  resemblance.  He  trusted 
implicitly  to  nothing  but  the  accuracy  of  observation  em- 


m 


262 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


ployed  upon  the  subject  itself,  guarding  himself  against  the 
risks  of  resemblance,  on  the  suspicion  that  the  process 
often  unconsciously  conceals  vicious  speculations.    And 
he  was  as  cautious  with  induction  ;  for  he  was  well  aware 
that  it  is  much  given   to  putting  distance  over-boldlj 
between  the  truths  which  it  connects,  and  is  often  unsafe 
both  in  data  and  demonstration.     Nor  did  he  jumble 
induction  and  analogy  after  the  manner  of  the  current 
philosophizing  in  which  there  is   so  little  philosophy. 
"  Then,  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  rational,  how  did  he 
think  ?"   Take  this  for  a  reply,  and  in  it  or  by  it  find  the 
answer:— He  believed  all  that  he  hnew,  and  he  trusted 
his  whole  weight  upon  the  legitimate  inferences  as  for 
as  they  would  carry  him,  but       '11  holding  deductions 
for  mere  hypotheses  until  he  h       proved  them  by  their 
trial  upon  the  facts,  all  the  while  proceeding  as  reso- 
lutely as  the  simplest  credulity  could  do;  and  so,  his 
characteristic  audacity  of  belief  was  never  misguided  by 
inferences  mistaken  for  certainties. 

His  faith  in  medicine  was  decidedly  thin,  but  not  lim- 
ber. He  says  of  it,  "I  am,  I  fear,  heterodox  almost 
to  infidelity  as  to  the  direct  action  of  remedies,  and 
rarely  allow  myself  to  claim  a  sequence  as  a  result." 

For  routine-practice  and  the  highest  professional  suc- 
cess he  perhaps  had  not  a  just  appreciation.  He  preferred 
the  achievements  of  an  explorer,  mixed  with  adventure, 
to  the  reputation  of  Hunter  or  Harvey.  His  skepticism 
in  drug-practice  had  a  basis  in  his  own  make,  which 
put  life,  in  his  idea,  out  of  and  above  the  reach  of  che- 


BENEFITS     OF    HIS    MEDICAL    STUDY.        263 


inicals.  This  feeling,  which  was  to  him  a  fountain  of 
opinion  as  well  as  a  spring  of  action,  shows  itself  just  in 
the  right  place.  When  the  Advance  party  were  reduced 
to  ten  men,  and  four  of  them  were  on  their  backs,  the 
thermometer  at  30°  below  zero,  and  prospects  even 
lower,  he  says,  speaking  of  Morton  and  Hans,  "  I  can 
see  strength  of  system  in  their  cheerfulness  of  heart. 

le  best  prophylactic  is  a  hopeful,  sanguine  tempera- 
ment ;  the  best  cure,  moral  resistance, — that  spirit  of 
combat  against  every  trial  which  is  alone  true  bravery." 

Yet  he  was  not  unaware  of  the  advantages  Avhich  his 
medical  attainments  gave  him.  In  his  darkest  day  he 
says,  "  I  am  glad  of  my  professional  drill  aj^d  its  com- 
panion-influence oyer  the  sick  and  toil-worn.  I  could 
not  get  along  at  all  unless  I  combined  the  offices  of 
physician  and  commander." 

Anatomical  and  physiological  study,  in  fact,  had  done 
more  for  him  than  he  knew.  There  is  nothing  like  the 
former  for  art  in  observing  and  describing  the  physical 
properties  of  things;  and  no  method  of  inquiry  goes 
more  directlj^  or  thoroughly  into  the  phenomena  of  forces 
and  the  dependency  of  actions  than  that  of  the  latter. 
Dr.  Kane's  descriptive  powers  gained  greatly  by  his 
training  in  the  study  of  anatomy  and  the  practice  of 
the  dissecting-room  and  the  laboratory ;  and  his  applica- 
tion of  the  doctrine  of  endosmose  to  the  explanation  of 
Arctic  ice-thaw  while  the  thermometer  is  still  below  the 
freezing-point,  and  its  happy  help  to  the  understanding 
of  that  paradox  of  fact,  the  viscous  flow  of  the  glaciers, 


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ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


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is  a  splendid  example  of  the  extension  of  physiological 
science  to  one  of  the  most  remote  fields  of  physical  in- 
quiry. 

Dr.  Kane's  trouble  with  medicine  was  that  hypothesis 
must  be  so  largely  accepted  for  facts,  and  agencies 
hazardously  credited  with  efficiency  upon  grounds  but 
slightly  supported  by  evidence.  In  a  word,  his  mental 
integrity  was  something  too  stubborn  for  the  authority 
of  oracles. 

His  power  to  govern  his  subordinates  and  to  lead  his 
equals  was  not  overmeasured  by  his  reliance  upon  it. 

He  went  out  on  his  last  voyage  without  any  of  the  rules 
and  regulations  which  govern  our  national  marine,  or 
authority  to  enforce  them.  The  men  were  volunteers,  and 
the  expedition  was  a  private  venture.  Yet  on  deck,  in  dan- 
gerous and  difTicult  navigation,  he  held  the  respect  of 
the  sailors.  Tried  every  day  by  the  rough  standard  of 
these  regular-bred  routinists,  they  felt  and  conceded  his 
superiority.  When  he  bravely  ventured  upon  tlie  outside 
passage  of  Melville  Bay  on  his  outward-bound  trip.  Brooks 
and  McGary  thought  he  must  be  right,  though  they  had 
never  heard  of  such  a  thing  before;  and,  when  two  years 
of  daily  trials  had  habituated  thom  to  a  frank  obedience, 
they  followed  him  in  an  open  boat  through  the  same 
perilous  passage  which  the  little  brig  had  first  found  by 
the  instincts  of  her  commander.  It  was  like  inviting  a 
score  of  draymen  to  make  an  ascension  in  a  paper  balloon 
through  a  snow-storm  j  but  they  trusted,  for  tiiey  had 


ESQUIMAUX    ALLIES. 


265 


learned  a  habit  of  dependence  bj  a  thousand  instances 
of  assuring  experience. 

He  was  at  once  indomitable  and  irresistible;  but  the 
spring  in  his  spirit  was  neither  a  blind  temerity  nor  an 
irreflective  transport,  for  he  never  took  a  step  undirected 
by  fji-cthought :    his  boldness  was   reliance   upon   the 
anticipations  of  caution,  and  just  because  he  looked  so 
carefully  ahead  he  never  looked  back.     I.  was  not  as  a 
phrase-maker,  but  as  a  law-maker,  he  uttered  these  max- 
ims of  order :_"  I  realize  fully  the  moral  effects  of  an  un- 
broken  routine."    "  Whatever  of  executive  ability  I  have 
picked  up  during  this  brain  and    body  wearing  cruise 
warns  me  against  immature  preparation  or  vacillating 
purposes.     I   must   have   an   exact   discipline,   a   rigid 
t'outine,  and  a  perfectly-thought-out  organization." 

But,  wonderful  as  the  history  of  his  reign  over  his  own 
lesperately  tried  crew  through  all  the  adventures  of  the 
cruise    appears,   his    management    of   his    Esquimr.ux 
neighbors  of  Etah  varies,  if  it  does  not  otherwise  en- 
hance,  the   evidence   of  his   mental   mastery  over   his 
fellow-men.     These  animal-men  began  by  robbing   the 
brig,  and  at  one  time  would  have  been  willing  to  destroy 
the  crew :  they  ended  by  helping  them  to  purpose  on 
their  retreat  from  the  scene  of  their  sufferings.     He  says 
of  them,  ''As  long   as  we   remained  prisoners  of  the 
ice,  we  were  indebted  to  them  for  invaluable  counsel  in 
relation  to  our  hunting-excursions;    and  in  tiie  joint 
hunt  we  shared  alike,  according  to  their  laws.     Our 
dogs  were,  in  one  sense,  common  property;    and   often 


X 

It*.' 


266 


ELISIIA   KENT   _-ANE. 


f 


they  have  robbed  themseb.  es  to  offer  supplies  of  food  to 
our  starving  teams.  They  gave  us  supplies  of  meat  at 
critical  periods :  we  were  able  to  do  as  much  for  them. 
They  learned  to  look  on  us  only  as  benefactors,  and,  I 
know,  mourned  our  departure  bitterly."  Their  own 
statement  and  explanation  of  the  relations  subsisting  so 
long  and  so  happily  between  themselves  and  his  party 
has  matter  in  it  to  dwell  upon : — "  You  have  done  us 
good.  We  are  not  hungry;  we  will  not  take  [steal]. 
You  have  done  us  good :  we  want  to  help  you :  we  are 
friends." 

Savage  superstition  and  the  marvellous  six-shooter 
had  some  share  in  this  influence ;  but  he  observed  a  jus- 
tice in  his  dealings  with  them  which  secured  their  con- 
fidence, and  exhibited  a  superiority,  in  all  the  qualities 
of  manhood  which  they  understood,  that  could  not  fail 
to  impose  respect. 

His"  emotions  at  parting  with  these  poor  creatures 
were  the  earnings  of  his  admirable  management  of 
them  through  all  their  strange  intercourse  : — "  I  blessed 
them  for  their  humanity  to  us  with  a  fervor  of  heart 
which  from  a  better  man  peradventure  might  have 
carried  a  blessing  along  with  it." 

The  heart  so  tender  and  true  to  objects  so  repulsive 
as  these  could  not  be  insensible  to  the  charm  that  there 
is  in  childhood,  in  its  beauty  and  innocence,  or  indifferent 
to  its  claims  to  the  consideration  and  care  which  may 
minister  to  its  culture  under  the  influences  of  Chris- 
tian civilization. 


FONDNESS    FOK    CHILDREN. 


267 


Dr  Kane  loved  children  with  a  woman's  tenderness 
and  a  man's  forethought.   When  he  was  about  leaving  for 
England,  and  a  course  of  popular  lectures  was  proposed 
to  him  in  the  event  of  his  early  return  to  the  United 
States,  with  the  tempting  assurance  of  ten  thousand 
dollars  for   the  ensuing  winter's   work,  he   answered, 
I  will  not  talk  about  that  now;  bat  if  I  do  come  back, 
and  have  but  the  strength  to  deliver  one  lecture,  it  shall 
be  to  an  audience  of  children." 

He  was  once  urged  to  write  a  RoUnson   Crusoe  story 
of  his  adventures.    He  looked  up  at  first  with  the  sur- 
prise of  his  habitual   self-depreciation   and   despair  of 
strength  for  such  a  task ;  but  the  idea  brightened^-doubt- 
less  with  this  cherished  reference  to  the  service  of  the 
youth  of  the  country,  and  he  said,  "But  could  I  doit?" 
The  answer  was,  «  Yes,  and  without  exhaustion,  or  risk 
of  failure   in  the  effect:   that  is  your   style  exactly," 
"I'll  do  it,"  said  he,  and  walked  off  in  a  glow  of  pleasure 
as  If  to  indulge  the  anticipation  to  the  full  and  enjoy 
it  unobserved. 

The  loss  is  fellow  to  the  sorrow  of  all  the  disappoint- 
ment  which  shrouds  these  buried  hopes.    His  death  ims 
untimely  j  for  he  could  have  lived  to  the  end  of  his  days 
however  prolonged.  * 

The  liberal  spirit  and  considerate  feeling  towards  the 
men  under  his  command-all' of  them-that  marks  the 
book  which  immortalizes  all  its  subjects  is  in  perfect 
keeping  with  the  character  he  displayed  where  his  tastes 
were  gratified  and  his  aftections  secured.    It  proves  that 


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268 


ELISUA    KENT    KANE. 


§0K 


K, 

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C 


his  virtues  were  not  the  caprices  of  feeling,  but  held  the 
rank  of  principles  in  his  character.  It  was  magnanimity 
without  its  pride.  He  rendered  justice  by  the  rule  that 
exacts  little  where  little  is  given;  and  he  did  not  so 
much  forgive  as  justify  the  deficiencies  of  limited  cr^par 
bilities,  moral  as  well  as  mental  and  physical ;  and  it 
was  not  in  disappointment  or  suffering,  however  severe, 
to  warp  his  justice  or  sharpen  his  judgments. 

But  this  chapter  of  personal  characterization  must 
close. 

His  scie.  ific  attainments,  great  and  varied  as  they 
were,  were  as  nothing  to  him  except  as  they  could  be 
worked  into  his  practical  life.  They  must  be  overpassed 
in  his  biography ;  for  it  must  not  give  them  a  prominence 
which  he  refused  them.  And  his  literary  acquirements 
and  achievements, — they  are  rendered  by  a  thousand 
pens,  whose  several  authorities  each  one  outweighs  the 
worth  of  my  opinions. 

Success  was  the  measure  by  which  he  judged  his  own 
strivings.  The  generation  which  he  addressed  and 
aerved  shall  judge  the  works  that  survive  him,  remem- 
bering only  that,  had  he  lived,  he  would  have  written  a 
book  of  Arctic  science  for  his  peers,  and  a  hand-book  of 
natural  history,  travel,  and  adventure  levelled  to  the 
intellectual  capacities  of  childhood  and  lifted  to  the 
rank  of  its  requirements.  Credit  him  with  the  purpose 
of  such  a  service  to  the  world  as  this,  and  estimate  his 
capability  by  the  evidence  he  has  afforded  in  that  which 
he  has  done. 


iion   mmt 


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LETTER  FROM  DR.  HAYES, 

SUROEON    OP    DR.    KANE's    EXPEDITION. 

DR.  KANE'S  PLAN  OF  SEARCir_AI>VENTURES  0-  THE  DEPOT-PARTT-RETURN  OF 
PART  OF  THEM-STARTINQ  OF  THE  RELIEF-P.^ITT-INADEQITATE  APPLIANCES- 
SPECIAL    PROVIDENCE-TIIEIB    RETURN-DEATH    OF  BAKER  AND    8CHUBERT-DE 

KANE  8    SICKNESS-WANT  OF  DOOS-APPEARANCE  OF  ESQUIMAUX-AN    EXCHANGE 
EFFECTED — BREAKING   DOWN. 

On  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  1854,  Dr.  Kane's  health  was  much 
improved,  and  his  plan  of  search  was  fully  developed  before  the  return 
of  the  summer. 

A  depot  of  provisions  was  to  be  established  to  the  northward  of  the 
vessel,  upon  the  most  northern  point  of  the  opposite  coast  of  the  strait- 
and,  upon  the  return  of  the  party  sent  out  f  ,r  the  purpose,  it  was  his 
intention  to  push  forward  at  the  head  of  his  grand  party,  and,  making 
this  depot  or  cache  his  final  starting-point,  descend  in  as  nearly  the 
direction  of  the  Pole  as  circu.ustancos  would  admit,  until  reaching  the 
extreme  north  shore  of  the  American  continent,  when  he  would  tura 
to  the  westward  in  search  of  the  missing  expedition. 

This  depot-party  was  sent  out  under  charge  of  Mr.  Brooks;  and  as 
you  know,  it  resulted  only  in  disaster.  They  encountered  tremendous 
ridges  of  hummocks  in  the  centre  of  the  channel,  from  ten  to  forty  feet 
in  height.  After  battling  with  these  for  eight  days,  and  finding  it  ira- 
possible  to  pass  them,  they  set  out  on  their  return ;  but  on  the  first  dny 
of  their  retreat  four  of  them  were  frozen  and  rendered  helpless.  Placing 
the  sick  in  their  sleeping-bags  within  the  tent,  and  leaving  Hickey  to 
look  after  their  wants,  the  remaining  three  (Ohlsen,  Petersen,  and  Son- 
tag)  put  off  for  the  vessel,  forty  miles  distant,  in  a  bee-line,  which  they 
reached  in  thirteen  hours  without  a  halt. 

Immediately  upon  their  arrival,  Dr.  Kane  organized  a  relief-party  — 

consisting  of  all  the  well  men  in  the  ship  except  myself,  I  being  left 

behind  to  be  in  condition  to  receive  the  sick  when  thoy  should  arrive. 

There  were  at  the  time  five  on  board  incapable  of  duty. 

The  relief-party  therefore  consisted  of  eight,  besides  Dr.  Kane.    Ohlsen 

269 


1,2 

a 

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WMrtI 


270 


ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


"WkK 

♦••5 
M 


was  of  the  number,  and  acted  as  guide,  starting  back  after  a  rest  of  but 
two  hours. 

This  relief-expedition  was  (7ie  heroic  performance  of  the  cruise ;  and  when 
we  are  made  acquainted  with  the  plain  facts  connected  with  it,  when  we 
reflect  that  it  was  triumphantly  successful  against  all  odds,  (and  sitch  odds,) 
we  are  astonished  at  the  endurance  of  the  actors  in  the  drama,  and  of  the 
responsible  person.  The  leader  oi  the  band— he  who  took  them  out  and 
brought  them  safely  back — looms  up  in  our  imagination  as  something 
more  than  human.  At  that  time  we  were  inured  to  hardship  and 
scarcely  realized  the  magnitude  of  the  deed.  The  calmer  reflection  of 
later  days  makes  n.e  shudder  at  the  bare  thought  of  the  condition  of 
this  party  wben  I  first  saw  them,  after  a  march  of  nearly  a  hundred 
miles  without  sleep  or  rest,  and  for  seventy  hours  constantly  exposed  to 
a  temperature  ranging  from  20°  to  50°  below  zero. 

Dr.  Kane  had  not  yet  taken  the  field  for  exploration,  but  was  pre- 
paring himself  for  his  grand  journey  upon  the  arrival  of  the  party  of  Mr. 
Brooks  at  the  vessel.  He  was  in  no  condition  to  hazard  such  an  enter- 
prise; and  he  certainly  would,  under  the  circumstances,  have  been 
excusable  had  he  despatched  the  party  under  command  of  Ohlsen  or 
some  other  competent  person.  But  that  was  not  the  metal  of  the  man. 
He  was  not  the  one  to  shirk  danger,  greater  though  it  might  be  to  him 
than  to  others. 

The  rescue-party  set  out  in  two  hours  after  Ohlsen  arrived.  They 
carried  only  three  pounds  of  lard,  twice  as  many  of  pemmican,  and  a  small 
tent  (our  only  one)  that  barely  sufficed  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
relief-party.  There  was  one  being  made  which  would  have  held  the 
entire  party;  but  it  would  have  taken  eight  or  ten  hours  to  finish  it; 
and,  said  Kane,  ''  in  those  eight  or  tea  hours  our  comrades  in  the 
wilderness  may  die." 

If  they  had  been  provided  with  a  good  tent,  provisions  for  four  or  five 
days,  sleeping-fixtures,  and  a  strong  guide,  they  would  have  been  prepared 
for  any  emergency.  As  it  was,  God  only  knows  how  they  reached  the 
tent  on  the  ice.  The  tracks  were  obliterated ;  their  compass  was  sluggish ; 
their  only  guide-boards  were  the  bergs,  and  these  were  almost  all  identical 
in  shape.  Every  thing  depended  upon  Ohlsen.  Had  he  lost  his  way,  or 
broken  down,  or  become  stupefied  with  cold  and  exposure,  there  would 
scarcely  have  been  one  chance  in  a  hundred  that  they  would  ever  reach 
the  tent;  and  in  their  efforts  to  find  it— groping  about  without  the 
slightest  knowledge  of  where  they  were,  out  of  sight  of  land,  ill  disposed 
to  give  up  the  search — I  saw  little  chance  of  their  doing  other  than 


LETTER    FROM    DR.    HAYES. 


r  a  rest  of  but 


271 


wtVa° thtv  wT  ''''°'"  .""'^  ""«"  ™""  ""=  '''^  "'"»'  i^w- 
ituj,c  ^;nat  tiiey  were  remembered 

invalid  .hat  he  ™;    ^  „  l ^l    '  1  "'■  ""  ™^^"°« 

done  which  required  nerve  aJUahtl^  T  °  ™'""""°=  ™  "'  ^ 
within  him,  which  ,en  mil  ?  >,  '  "  "'""«  P""""'  ™  "'""^"'^ 
Joint,  and  .nn-rnrhl^'tir''   f*^   "'■-k'-  ">e.na«„ 

He  Inf]  .  i.J     T    .        7^        ''^  ^"""S  a  greater  part  of  the  day 

poor  Schubert's  death  to  him      I,  ,ff   ,7^-  ™  ^""^  ">  "nnonnce 
lis  cardiac  troublel  ""''  """  ''°™"^'^'  ""^  «newed 

4  nt  tit;;:iX?x  r:»"  -  ^^^  p--  'o  -.  ».- 

ro.™  rfthTfit'  °'/P""S :?  '»^  fc"'  *™o  <108»;  and,  after  the 
was  p,-epari„g  to  take  the  field.     But    i„st  in  t  me    .W  "p 

appea.d,-.„  men,  with  .„.  sled,;  fnd  t";:;!:::,^::;;:" 

life'  llTV"  7,,"",*  "''"  ^"^  ""'  ""  "'  *''  l"'PPi««  of  Dr.  Kane's 
Wo,  and  certainly  the  happiest  h.  had  seen  for  man/a  week.     "Esqui! 


t 

.^3 


•  •■«£ 


^n 


4r 


•INMI- 


re 


c 


272 


ELISnA    KENT    KANE. 


maux  alongside !"  shouted  McGary  down  the  hatch.  The  person  foi 
whose  ears  the  words  were  intended  might  with  great  propri-ty  have 
answered  with  an  interrogative  "  Whatl"'  or  stopped  to  think  what  good 
could  como  of  it.  But  the  word  "  Esquimaux"  was  enough.  It  was 
significant  of  dogs;  and  for  dogs  he  had  prayed.  I  would  give  much  to 
see  the  picture  which  shot  out  meteor-like  upon  his  imagination,  trans- 
forming him  from  a  weak,  quiet  invalid  lying  on  his  back,  reading  a 
volume  of  the  Naturalist's  Library,  into  a  strong  and  vigorous  man 
standing  upon  the  shore  of  the  open  sea,  or  on  the  floe,  with  Sir  John 
Franklin's  hand  fast  locked  in  his  own. 

He  was  lying  in  his  bunk.  "Esquimaux  alongside!"  had  hardly 
been  caught  by  the  half-slumbering  crew;  but  no  such  sound  could 
be  lost  on  the  ears  of  Kane.  Quicker  than  a  flash  he  was  out  upon 
the  deck.  His  only  words  were  (and  these,  I  believe,  he  got  off 
between  leaving  his  blankets  and  alighting  upon  the  deck  with  an 
emphasis  you  will  be  well  able  to  appreciate)  "  Thank  Heaven  !  I'll  make 
my  journey  now."  His  clothes  were  on  in  a  twinkling ;  he  was  oat 
upon  the  floes  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it ;  and  in  half  an  hour 
he  was  richer  by  a  team  of  dogs,  and  poorer  by  a  couple  of  butcher- 
knives  and  a  few  needles.  He  was  a  sick  man  no  more,  and  in  a  few 
days  was  in  the  field  with  a  train  of  seven  men  and  a  team  of  seven 

dogs. 

But  the  spirit  and  enthusiastic  devotion  to  duty  which  had  carried 
him  through  the  rescue,  and  the  consciousness  of  responsibility  which 
bore  him  up  through  the  trying  days  which  followed,  could  not  give 
bim  muscle,  nor  recharge  the  over-exhausted  electric-battery  of  his 
nervous  system.  To  break  down  at  last  was  inevitable :  yet  he  would 
not  "  give  in."  For  two  days  he  was  carried  forward  on  the  dog-sledge, 
unable  to  walk,  or  stir  hand  or  foot.  Sinking,  and  almost  insensible,  his 
party  put  about,  and,  by  forced  marches,  reached  the  vessel  at  last. 
We  met  our  commander  at  the  gangway  supported  by  his  companions, 
and  apparently  dying.  At  that  moment  his  resuscitation  seemed  to  me 
impossible. 


mm* 
Truly  yours,  with  respect, 


I.  I.  Hayes. 


West  Chester,  Pa.,  July  18,  1857. 


LETTER    FROM   AMOS    BONSALL. 


273 


ith  Sir  John 


LETTER  FROM  AMOS  BONSALL, 

A   MEMBER   OP  DR.  KANE's   EXPEDITION. 

EARLY  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH  DR.  KANE-VOWNTEKKINO  FOR  THK  EXPEDmOK- 
CHARACTKR  OF  THE  SAILOES-DR.  KANE's  ALLEGED  CRUELTY  TO  HIS  MEN-, 
rir"'"'''''"'"'  ««^^-"«NIAL  AND  KINDNESS  TO  THE  SICK-DEATH  OF 
JEFFERSON   T.  BAKER  AND    PIERRE    SCHUBERT-CHARACTER    OF    BAKER. 

Dear  Sir  :-Knowing  that  you  are  engaged  in  the  publication  of  a 
Life  of  Dr.  Ehsha  Kent  Kane,"  written  by  Dr.  Wm.  Elder,  I  thought 
perhaps  It  would  be  proper  for  me  to  give  you  some  of  my  impressions 
of  him  as  a  friend,  a  commander,  and  a  man.  In  speaking  of  him  as  a 
fnend,  I  shall  pass  over  the  earlier  period  of  our  acquaintance  during 
my  own  boyhood,  merely  remarking  that  I  had  a  great  admiration  for 
his  achievements  in  India,  China,  and  other  parts  of  the  Eastern  Conti- 
nent,-incidents  and  anecdotes  of  which  I  had  heard  from  himself  and 
others. 

Having  expressed  a  desire,  if  he  ever  made  a  second  voyage  to  the 
Arctic  region,  to  accompany  him,  he  wrote  me  early  in  December  of 
ibi>.;  and  i  volunteered  immediately  on  his  informing  me  that  he  could 
secure  me  a  situation  on  board  his  vessel. 

From  that  time  I  was  in  daily  intercourse  with  him,  and  always  found 
him  kind  and  courteous  in  the  highest  degree.     After  I  left  home  for 

.  pJ'^i  ^-"V^"  ''"'"^  °^  '^'  Expedition,  he,  during  a  short  visit 
to  Philadelphia,  having  a  few  hours  to  spare,  drove  out  to  visit  mv 
parents,  and  gave  them  my  last  adieu  and  brought  me  their  blessing 
and  last  charges;  and  that  at  a  time  when  he  was  suffering  verv 
severely  from  chronic  rheumatism  and  scarcely  able  to  rise  from  his 
bed. 

After  we  were  fairly  embarked,  he  sank  for  a  time  from  sea-sickness, 
and  was  always  ill  whenever  there  was  breeze  enough  to  create  the 
slightest  swell.  In  fact,  I  believe  no  man  but  Dr.  Kane  would  have 
persevered  in  the  voyage  under  the  accumulated  diseases  from  which  he 
suffered  at  that  time ;  and  I  scarcely  think  there  was  one  of  the  Expe- 
dition who  thought  his  recovery  possible. 

On  account  of  his  sickness  at  the  time  of  the  fitting  out  of  the  Expe- 
dition, a  great  deal  was  necessarily  intrusted  to  others,  and  we  sailed, 
very  imperfectly  prepared  to  encounter  the  perils  and  privations  of  an 

18 


274 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


Arctic  winter;  air],  worse  than  all,  the  men  had  been  shipped  from 
the  ordinary  class  of  sailors  in  port,  without  regard  to  their  moral  cha- 
racter or  physical  ability;  and  before  reaching  Greenland  we  had  diffi- 
culties with  some  which  should  not  have  occurred,  and  others  were 
comparatively  useless  on  account  of  sickness. 

Here  I  may  with  propriety  speak  of  a  charge  which  has  been  promul- 
gated since  his  decease, — that  of  "  cruelty  to  his  men."  I  must  say  that, 
80  fur  from  being  cruel,  in  many  instances  I  considered  that  the  punish- 
ment was  by  no  means  commensurate  with  the  offence;  and  had  he 
been  more  severe  at  the  beginning  of  the  voyage  he  would  have  had 
less  trouble  at  the  latter  part. 

His  course  was  always  to  incite  to  exertion  with  the  promise  of 
rewards.  To  those  who  had  not  ambition  to  exert  themselves  for  the 
common  good,  the  punishments  were,  unfortunately,  of  such  a  nature  as 
to  have  no  terrors.  Indeed,  I  have  known  individuals  to  commit 
offences  for  the  express  purpose  of  being  put  in  confinement  and  thereby 
escape  their  daily  routine  of  duty. 

In  many  cases  of  extreme  suffering  which  occurred  during  our  absence 
on  journeys,  he  always  used  ever}-  means  in  his  power  to  alleviate  the 
condition  of  the  patients.  He  gave  up  his  own  bed  to  those  who  were  sick 
and  frozen;  and  during  the  second  winter,  while  crowded  together  in  ^le 
little  cabin  of  the  Advance,  by  his  indomitable  energy  and  activity 
he  prevented  the  last  spark  of  hope  from  dying  out,  and,  under  Provi- 
dence, enabled  us,  by  obtaining  fresh  meat  from  the  Esquimaux,  to 
support  life  and  strength  until  the  season  opened  sufficiently  for  us  to 
escape. 

At  the  time  of  our  leaving  the  brig,  by  his  exertions  with  the  dogs 
and  Esquimaux  he  not  only  conveyed  the  sick  (six  in  number)  to  the 
open  water,  thereby  relieving  of  the  burden  those  who  worked  at  the 
boats,  but  carried  down  a  great  portion  of  the  provisions,  besides  return- 
ing to  the  ship  several  times  for  bread,  by  these  means  saving  the 
provisions  wo  had  prepared  and  packed  for  the  journey.  During  our 
passage  through  the  ice  in  open  boats  on  that  perilous  journey  of  more 
than  eighty  days,  by  his  judicious  management  he  not  only  cheered  the 
dispirited  and  quieted  the  querulous  and  discontented,  but  he  so  dis- 
pensed the  provisions  as  to  give  no  one  the  slightest  cause  for  complaint, 
(a  most  difficult  operation,  as  any  one  who  has  had  to  do  with  starving 
men  can  testify.) 

Looking  back  upon  it  now,  after  a  lapse  of  more  than  two  years,  with 
a  shudder,  I  can  freely  say  that  it  was  to  his  careful  organization  at  the 


LETTER    FROM    AMOS    BONSALL.  275 

first,  and  his  cautious  progress  during  the  journey,  that  we  owe  our 
dehverance  and  restoration  to  our  h'>nies. 

Restraining  a  party  of  men  on  a  homeward  journey,  after  undergoing 
the   penis  of  two  Arctic  winters,  cut  off  from    communication  witS 

r '     :r\'  ^^"«"'''  ^'  *^°^^'  ^^  ^^  ™-^  --  ^^ffi-it  matt' 

than  urging  them  forward  at  a  ruinous  rate  would  be;  yet  often  it 
was  more  essential  to  our  safety  that  we  should  lie  still  aid  recruit  our 
exhausted  energies  and  await  the  favorable  movements  of  the  ice,  than 
exhau^  ourselves  ,n  fruitless  endeavors  to  surmount  difficulties  ^hich" 
by  waiting  patiently  a  short  time,  would  be  removed  from  our  path 

In  writing,  I  find  a  difficulty  in  avoiding  the  description  of  traits 
.pokenof  by  others  and  perhaps  would  have  said  as  mvfch  to  the  pu 
pose  If  I  had  stated  that  to  me  he  was  invariably  a  kind  friend    an 
.n  ulgeot  commaiKler,  and  always  manifested  a  warm  intere^    n'mj 
welfare  for  which  I  shall  be  forever  grateful  ^ 

death  of  Jefferson  T.  Baker,  which,  occurring  as  it  did,  (he  being  the 
farst  of  those  of  our  comrades  who  left  their  bones  to  bleach  on  the 
barren  coasts  of  Smith's  Sound,)  made  more  impression  upon  us  than 
any  subsequent  death;  and,  without  considering  the  relations  which  he 

.r  ^^^  \  7^  7  '^''  ''''■^'  ^""  ^""^  '^'''  i°  '^'  «1»P  felt  as 
though  he  had  lost  a  brother.     It  is  unnecessary  to  speak  of  the  occur! 

rences  preceding  his  death,  as  Dr.  Kane,  in  his  -Explorations,"  ha. 
given  them  to  the  world  in  a  manner  which  leaves  nothing  to  be  said  by 
me.     After  the  fearful  journey  which  we  made  to  rescue  those  of  our 
comrades  who  were  frozen  on  the  terrible  25th  of  March,  we  were  so 
exhausted,  both  mentally  and  physically,  that  it  required  several  days 
for  us  to  recover  our  wonted  tone  of  mind  and  bodily  habit,  so  violently 
deranged  by  exposure  and  hardship.     The  sick  men,  on  their  arrival 
at  the  brig,  were  kindly  cared  for  by  those  who  were  expecting  us;  and 
every  thing  possible  to  alleviate  their  intense  suffering  was  done  by  our 
skilful  and  warm-hearted  surgeon,  Dr.  Hayes.     All  that  he  could  do 
or  us  in  the  emergency  was  done,  and  after  some  hours  of  rest  we  began 
to  be  comfortable  once  more.     Short  respite!     The  next  day  Dr.  Kane 
eal  ed  me  to  him   and,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  told  me  his  fears  in  regard 
to  two  of  the  sufferers,  J.  T.  Baker  and  Pierre  Schubert,  as  their  wounds 
were  worse,  and  symptoms  of  aberration  of  mind  in  Baker's  case  were 
manirest. 

I  did  not  realize  the  frightful  result  for  some  hours,  and  then,  after  it 
broke  in  its  full  force  upon  me,  (that  there  was  no  hope  of  saving  him, 


m-tm 

c 


.If 

1*1 


276 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


c 


and  that  he  must  die,)  it  was  necessary  to  keep  every  thing  as  quiet  as 
possible,  to  prevent  th'i°i  in  the  same  condition  in  the  other  berth  of  the 
cabin  (which  had  been  devoted  to  the  sick  and  wounded)  from  learnicg 
the  truth  so  long  as  it  could  be  concealed  from  them,  and  theri  to 
prepare  them  for  the  sad  reality. 

Every  preparation  was  made  for  the  burial  which  could  be  done  in 
our  situation ;  and  the  next  day  we  carried  him  to  his  last  resting-place 
on  Observatory  Island,  and  placed  him  in  the  SLow-house,  (where  one 
month  after  we  placed  Pierre  beside  him,)  the  state  of  the  ground  not 
permitting  us  to  make  a  grave  for  t,vo  or  three  months  afterward. 

Jefferson  Baker  volunteered  as  a  member  of  the  Expedition,  and 
always  bore  out  the  character  which  he  had  gained  for  atte  ition  to  hia 
duty,  and  was  beloved  alike  by  the  officers  and  men  of  our  little  Land. 
He  was  personally  known  to  Dr.  Kane  before  the  time  of  onr  departure  j 
aiid  he  had  always  felt  more  deeply  interested  in  his  welfare  than  per- 
haps any  other  member  of  the  Expedition,  and  had  huped  to  aid  him, 
on  cur  r>3turn,  in  achieving  something  of  advantage  to  himself. 

Yoars,  respectfully, 

A.  BONSALL, 

Mr.  G.  W.  Childs,  Oct.  13,  1857.  Upper  Darby,  Pa. 


LETTER  FROM  HENRY  GOODFELLOW, 

jl  member  of  dr.  Kane's  expedition. 

PR.     KANr's      flBA-SIOKNESS — HIS      »7AHIT9      ON     BOAHIP — TATI.TNO      HEALTH — THS 
HESOUE-PABT  : — A    BAD    RrSTORATIVK — nOVF.IlNMENT  OF  THE  CEEW — ALIOWANCB 

OF  FOOD PtU  KANB'R    ABHOnRENO^   OF  OORPuR/.L    PUNISHMENT — HI!"  ATTENTION 

TO  THE    SICK — HIS    SPIRIT  OF   SCIENTIFIC  IIIQUIRY — HIS   BOOIAii    DEMEANOR  AND 
OONVEKSATION— KXtilCISE — DIETETICS. 

WnKN,  about  a  month  prior  to  J-^q  sailing  of  the  Expedition,  I  saw  Dr 
KflHo  on  bis  retui-n  to  Philac'-clphiii  from  New  York,  where  he  had  b-jon 
seriously :  M  for  several  weeks  with,  ''s  T  was  informed,  inflamraatyiv  rheuma- 
tism, ho  was  as  much  changed  in  appearance  as  it  .3  possible  for  a  man  to 
be  when  convalescent.  Instoal  of  the  former  restless  and  intense  vitality 
of  eye,  he  had  the  subdued  look  of  ..  broken-down  invalid.  In  the 
intcrvs!  between  thig  period  snd  that  of  hi?  departure  bt-  bad  recovered 


^  ,*  /   "  1     y, 


LETTER  FROM  HENRY  GOODFELLOW.     277 

in  a  great  degree  the  tone  of  his  bearing;  but  he  was  far  from  bein« 
either  well  or  vigorous.   .  ° 

He  had  always  been  subject  to  sea-sickness  in  a  very  acute  and  dis- 
tressing form,  manifesting  itself  in  a  constant  retching  without  power  to 
obtain  relief,  and  giddiness,  which  a  comparatively  slight  roughness  of 
the  sea-for  instance,  a  four  or  five  knot  breeze— invariably  brought  to 
him,  and  which  scarcely  abated  in  severity  through  the  longest  voya-e  • 
it  was  therefore  infinitely  worse  than  the  short,  violent,  and  spasmodic 
form. 

The  occurrence  of  this  malady  increased  his  general  debility,  but  did 
not  prevent  his  frequent  presence  and  activity  on  deck.  He  superin- 
tended  the  work  upon  the  sledge  apparatus  and  equipments,  and  inte- 
rested  himself  in  the  course  and  speed  of  the  brig. 

lie  was  fond,  on  fine  afternoons  when  the  sun  shone  out,  of 
reclining  on  a  large  tarpaulin-covered  box  on  the  quarterdeck,  where, 
wrapped  in  a  bufi-alo-robe,  he  would  write  his  journal  or  watch  th« 
working  of  the  ship,  and  seem  to  forget  his  exhausted  frame.  At  night 
he  would  suddenly  appear  over  the  combings  of  the  cabin  compnnitu- 
way,  dressed  in  his  gown  of  cashmere,  lined  with  the  wool  of  the  foetal 
lamb,  a  favorite  garment  which  ho  had  received  from  a  Hindoo  priest. 
After  inquiring  the  course  and  examining  the  log,  and  asking  whether 
more  sail  could  not  be  carried,  he  would  return  to  his  bunk,  but  not 
always  to  sleep.  The  recorder  of  the  watch,  descending  to  write  the 
hourly  observations,  would  generally  be  met  by  an  imiuiry  from  him. 

Indeed,  throughout  the  entire  cruise  be  seldom  foil  asleep  until  late  in 
;he  morning,  and  four  or  five  hours  was  in  general  his  maximum  of  rest. 
His  sleep,  too,  was  very  light.  It  was  scarcely  ever  necessary  to  more 
than  uttc  his  name  to  make  him  open  his  eyes;  and  if  it  was  accident- 
ally  mentioned  in  the  cabin,  within  hearing  of  his  bunk,  he  would  awake 
immediately, 

As  wo  advanced  along  the  coast  of  Greenland,  he  seemed  stronger, 
and  underwent  the  exposure  belonging  to  boating  among  the  settleme^ats 
with  the  alacrity  of  a  well  man,  without  evincing  any  sign  of  ill  health, 
except  a  more  than  his  usual  sensitiveness  to  cold,  making  him  recjuire 
more  clothing  than  he  would  otherwise  have  wanted,~for  ho  seemed  to 
be  in  uoed  of  a  heat-making  power. 

W;i,„  we  reached  the  waters  of  Smith's  Sound,  Dr.  Kano  spent 
much  ot  his  time  in  open  boat,  looking  for  harbors,--frc<iucntly,  too, 
after  a  previous  long  exposure  of  himself  in  the  ciow's  nest.  liut 
u  murkvd  ch;,nyc'  for  the  worse  took  place  about  this  time,— perhaps 


litiM 

C 

.J 

K 


0* 


»' 


278 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


■ml 


owing  to  the  excessive  exertion, — and  his  health  seemed  very  unpromising 
for  an  Arctic  winter.  In  spite  of  it,  he  made  his  fall-journey  to  investi- 
gate the  feasibility  of  sledging  over  the  ice  beyond.  He  returned  quite 
broken  down,  but  thoroughly  persuaded  that  it  was  his  duty  to  remain, 
notwithstanding  the  almost  impassable  character  of  the  ice  around  us, 
and  to  make  an  attempt  to  travel  along  the  somewhat  better  paths  ho 
had  reconnoitred. 

Ail  winter,  though  he  never  relaxed  or  intermitted  his  rigid  personal 
supervision  of  the  ship's  affairs,  it  was  only  too  evident  that  he  was 
Btruggling  with  disease.  As  well  as  I  can  describe  his  case,  his  circu- 
lation was  deficient :  his  face  and  hands  would  be  swollen, — the  capil- 
lary action  being  very  sluggish.  Sometimes  he  required  Mr.  Morton'c* 
assistance  to  enable  him  to  rise;  but,  once  on  his  legs,  he  would  go 
about  as  if  he  were  not  seriously  ailing,  making  some  facetious  romurk 
as  he  stretched  out  his  swollen  hands,  or  glanced  in  his  glass  at  his  fiico. 
His  only  allusions  to  his  ailments  were  in  a  tone  of  pleasantry  or  gayly- 
afieoted  complaint. 

A  slight  apparent  improvement  was  visible  in  his  health  about  the 
date  of  the  departure  of  the  first  party,  soon  after  the  return  of  the  sun 
in  1854:.  He  took  daily  drives  with  the  dogs,  whom  he  was  training; 
but  his  condition  was  any  thing  but  suitable  for  the  prodigious  exertion 
of  the  rescue-party;  and  the  training  which  he  had  had,  since  the  light 
returned,  of  perhaps  a  dozen  drives  and  as  many  walks^  together  with 
light  daily  exercise, — these  'vere  altogether  but  a  poor  preparative  for  a 
forced  march  of  forty  miles  over  the  roughest  possible  ice  at  a  tempera- 
ture of  from  40°  to  50°  below  zero. 

As  is  well  knowu,  in  less  than  three  hours  after  the  messengers,  breath- 
less and  almost  crazy  with  cold  and  fatigue,  came  to  the  brig,  the 
heroic  leader  started  out  with  a  party  of  eight  men,  including  Ohison, 
whose  sensoH  wore  bewildered  by  having  had  but  an  hour  or  two  of  rest 
from  the  journey,  to  enter  the  trackless  frozen  sua.  J'jvory  man  on  board 
accumpaniod  him,  except  the  i^urgoon,  one  in  the  cabin  with  a  leg  drawn 
up  with  scurvy,  two  men  whose  condition  was  unfit  for  a  sledge-journey, 
and  two  out  of  the  three  returned  party, — making  six  left  beiiind. 
Despatch  was  all-important.  But  they  had  to  drag  a  sledgo  laden 
with  a  tent  nnd  restoradvos,  and,  part  of  the  way,  their  oxhanstod 
guide.  The  returned  party,  with  nothing  to  carry  but  one  ril'o,  had 
reached  the  ship  in  one  march;  but  they  had  known  uo  ultcruutivo  except 
to  perish  in  the  snow. 

It  was  ii  HuhiGct  of  melaneholv  R^eoijlat-tii!!   \i\  i}\{^.  f^i^bin  "tnons?  thoso 


h  about  tlie 


LETTER. FROM    HENRY   GOODFELLOW.  279 

who  remained,  as  to  whether  the  tent  could  be  reached  in  a  single  march 
The  returned   travellers  thought   it  utterly  impossible.      There  was  a 
difaerent  opinion  entertained  with  equal  strength,  which  was  borne  out 
by  the  result. 

The  history  of  that  party  has  already  been  told.  It  was  not  a  very 
good  discipline  for  a  sick  man  who  looked  forward  to  starting  out  a-ain 
at  a  temperature  below  zero,  a  month  later.  The  wear  and  tear  of  "hos- 
pital, amputations,  and  the  counteracting  of  the  depressing  effect  of 
death,  together  with  the  actual  privation  arising  from  the  rec'ent  reduc- 
tion of  coal  to  an  allowance  only  sufficient  for  one  lire,  and  an  occasional 
extra  oiic,-all  taxed  to  the  utmost  the  nervous  system  of  the  com- 
mander, and  called  for  a  rare  union  of  firmness  with  oentlcness. 

Throughout  the  entire  cruise  the  government  of  the  crew  was  truly 
benign.  On  board  ship,  the  food-.-or  grub,  as  it  is  universally  called 
at  sea— IS  a  much  more  important  matter  than  it  is  on  shore.  Food 
and  drink,  with  tobacco,  stand  in  the  place  of  all  other  recreations  and 
pleasures  for  the  sailor,  and  form  the  great  element  in  Jack's  estimate 
ot  a  ship.  .  After  a  hard  exposure,  while  working  in  the  cold,  a  mere  cup 
of  coffee  has  a  taste  and  value  which  it  would  be  difficult  for  one  whose  lot 
has  always  been  a  life  of  ease  to  associate  with  such  an  apparent  trifle. 

On  board  the  Advance,  the  allowance  to  the  crew  was  varied  and 
liberal  to  a  degree  seldom  known  in  ships.  There  was  very  little  differ- 
ence between  the  cabin-table  and  the  forecastle-mess.  Sugar  and  butter 
of  excellent  (luality  were  furnished  almost  ad  liUfmn.  After  we  had 
gone  into  winter.(iuarters,  the  daily  fare  was  absolutely  the  same  at 
both  ends  of  the  ship,  in  substantial  materials,  the  only  difference 
being  the  few  trifling  stores  purchased  by  the  cabin-mess,  such  as  Wor- 
cester sauce,  olive-oil,  ligs,  &c.  The  dinner  of  the  men  was  prepared 
chiefly  by  the  cabin-steward,  and  consisted  of  soup,  meat,  ;.  i  dessert- 
courses.  If  there  occurred  any  dissatisfaction.— and  no  sybarite  can  be 
more  critical  than  the  sailor,— the  dinner  was  inspected  by  the  first 
officers,  accompanied  by  a  culinary  staff  of  cook  and  steward,  or  by  the 
commander,  who  always  invited  the  men  to  make  their  complaints  to 
hun  freely.  The  second  winter,  as  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  remind  you 
wo  had  but  one  mess.  ' 

It  was  remarked  more  than  once  by  Dr.  Kane  that  the  crew  in  an 
Arctic  expedition  wore  entitled  to  a  great  deal  of  indulgence  as  they 
bore  their  full  share  of  the  work  -nd  hardship,  but  by  no  nreans  received 
nn  equal  share  of  th,.  laurels,  and  could  not  be  expected  to  feel  quite  the 
Baine  zeal  that  the  officers  did. 


»«■• 

a 


mm 


280 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


O 


¥ 


He  could  Lu  severe  when  necessary.  He  was  always  firm,  but  desired 
to  be  lenient.  The  ability  in  a  commander  to  gratu_,  a  kindly  disposi- 
tion must  depend  in  a  great  measure  upon  the  character  and  behavior 
of  the  crew  themselves  But,  unfortunately,  it  does  not  require  a  very 
wide  acquaintance  with  human  nature  to  know  that  there  are  men  who  are 
at  times,  and  some  who  seem  always,  utterly  insensible  to  any  arguments 
or  appeals  except  those  of  fear  and  force.  It  was  not  until  repeated 
admonition  and  expostulation,  and  appeals  to  the  manly  instinct  of  the 
individual,  had  failed,  and  until  a  second  or  third  offence  was  committed, 
that  even  so  mild  a  punishment  as  confinement  was  resorted  to;  and 
this  means  was  adopted  without  the  accessory  of  placing  a  man  in  a  bolt- 
upright  posture,  or  mast-heading  him,  as  it  is  called  when  a  man  is  com- 
polled  to  hang  on  for  a  long  time  in  the  rigging,— punishments  which 
may  all  be  very  well  sometimes,  but  which  were  excluded  from  Dr. 
Kane's  scheme  of  government.  This  mercy  was  at  the  expense  of  the 
loss  of  the  prisoner's  service  to  the  always  short-handed  crew.  When 
instant  coercion  was  necessary  in  the  extremity  of  circumstances.  Dr. 
Kane  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt  a  proper  course. 

The  idea  of  tying  a  man  up  to  gratings  and  flogging  him,  as 
practised  in  the  American  marine  before  the  abolition  of  corporal 
punishment  in  the  navy  by  act  of  Congress,  was  revolting  to  every 
sentiment  of  his  soul;  and,  when  compelled  to  witness  punishment 
during  his  naval  career,  he  always  had  stood  by  in  abhorrence.  He  had 
been  an  earnest  advocate  of  reform  in  this  matter,  and  always  freely 
expressed  his  detestation  of  the  practice  of  corporal  punishment. 

In  the  control  of  others.  Dr.  Kane  evidently  exercised  a  painful  con- 
ficientiousuess.     His  actions  were  subjected  to  severe  self-scrutiny. 

His  generosity  led  him  to  a  peculiar  demeanor  toward  the  Danish  sub- 
jects in  the  party.  He  regarded  Petersen  (the  interpreter)  in  the  light  of 
a  guest,  and  sought  to  maintain  the  amenities  of  that  relation  iu  hishiter- 
course  with  him,  while  ho  made  it  a  pretext  to  extend  to  him  all  the 
indulgences  and  attentions  within  his  power.  Poor  Hans  ho  looked 
upon  as  his  own  personal  charge,  and  humored  his  whims  and  wishes  aa 
he  might  have  done  a  child's. 

His  consideration  for  the  entire  crow  was  indeed  beneficent.  He 
made  constant  personal  inspections  of  the  men's  quarters,  and  kind  indi- 
vidual inquiries  respecting  their  welfare,— sought  to  promote  their  amuse- 
ment and  provide  for  their  instruction.  The  cabin-library  was  open  to 
them,  and  instruction  in  matliematics,  &c.  offered.  His  care  for  the 
sick  was  delicate,  unremitting,  and  constant.    He  never  omitted,  so  long 


inp;   hiin,  as 


LETTER    FROM    HENRY   GOODFELLOW.  281 

as  he  could  move,  Lis  round  of  visits  or  relaxed  in  hia  efforts  to  invent 
some  dish  out  of  the  reduced  resources  which  might  be  palatable  to  them. 
That  he  was  the  nurse  as  well  as  physician  of  almost  the  entire  ship's  com- 
pany  at  one  time  or  another  is  well  known  ;  but  how  well  he  performed 
the  duty  can  only  be  known  to  those  who  were  the  recipients  or  wit- 
nesses  of  his  benevolent  actions.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  him  to 
send  away  some  savory  dish  of  the  intestines  of  a  ptarmigan,  which 
the  steward  had  cooked  with  artistic  skill  and  offered  to  him  in  a  silent 
night-watch,  and,  thus  refusing  it,  to  direct  it  to  be  given  to  some  sick 
comrade  who  could  relish  it. 

The  paramount  idea  of  Dr.  Kane  was  the  search  for  Sir  John  Franklin. 
A  religious  anxiety  to  do  something  to  promote  discovery  bearing  upon 
the  whereabouts  of  the  lost  sailor  was  his  ruling  passion  as  I  com- 
mandcr.  Nothing  but  the  most  earnest  desire  to  conduct  discovery  in 
person  could  have  prevailed  upon  him  to  take  the  field  in  April,  in  his 
state  of  health.  The  result  must  almost  have  been  foreseen  by  himself; 
and  he  certainly  had  strong  forebodings  of  it.  He  was  brought  back 
delirious  and  very  ill;  but  the  disease  seemed  to  have  reached  its  crisis  on 
bis  return  to  the  brig,  and  soon  he  began  to  mend  apace. 

I  think  it  was  in  the  highest  degree  fortunate  tliat  he  undertook  the 
adventurous  trip  in  an  attempt  to  reach  the  British  .station  at  Beochey 
Island,  as  nothing  within  our  reach  could  have  so  effectually  recruited 
his  health  as  the  fresh  game,  eggs,  and  cochlearia,  and  the  summer  sea- 
breeze. 

To  this  voyage  he  owed  that  recuperation  which  made  him  a  sounder 
man  on  his  return  than  he  had  been  before  during  the  cruise,  or  at 
least  from  the  setting  in  of  the  first  winter. 

At  the  inevitable  approach  of  a  second  winter.  Dr.  Kane  knew  full 
well  the  terrible  perils  from  scurvy  that  it  threatened;  but  he  was  only 
nerved  to  stronger  effort,  and  worked  with  trebled  energy.  In  com- 
bating  the  scurvy  in  himself  and  others,  providing  for  the  difficult 
economy  of  the  ship,  and  giving  the  assistance  of  his  own  hands  in  all 
Us  labors,  his  nervous  system  was  wrought  to  a  supernatural  tension; 
and,  when  wo  remember  the  contrivance,  invention,  and  mental  laboi 
required  for  providing  the  appointments  of  the  sledges  and  boats  of  that 
remarkable  journey,  and  his  exposed  sledgo-travel,  the  mind  is  oppressed 
m  the  attempt  to  appreciate  his  immense  power  of  endurance.  To  his 
vigilant  foresight  and  minutely-circumrr  .-t  providence,— certainly  only 
the  more  remarkable  if  acquired,-hy  vuich  all  the  wants  and  con- 
tingencios  of  the  journey  wcr^j  provided  for,  ao  less  than  to  hid  vigiiauco 


£«« 


If 

m 

«; 


282 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


CI 
ml 


O 


hm 


and  decisive  judgment  and  his  genius  for  prompt  action  or  combination, 
the  success  of  that  remarkable  boat-journey  was  undoubtedly  due. 

During  my  sojourn  for  ten  days  at  Anoatok  I  had  a  good  opportunity 
of  observing  bis  unwearied  diligence  in  sledging  between  the  boats,  Etah, 
the  brig,  and  Anoatok,  conveying  flesh  to  the  boats  and  to  our  hut  from 
Etah,  and  bread  and  baked  flour  from  the  ship,  as  well  as  his  unfailing, 
kind  consideration  f^r  the  sick  at  a  time  when  all  his  energies  uiiffht 
have  been  taxed  by  the  superintendence  of  the  eiForts  of  the  main  party 
for  escape.  From  the  ship  to  the  hut  and  back  was  no  unusual  journey 
for  him, — a  distance  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  When  he  brought  me  down 
from  the  ship  with  him,  notwithstanding  his  labor  in  driving  and  alter- 
nately with  me  running  b'jside  the  sledge  to  lighten  the  weight,  and 
lifting  the  sledge  over  high  hummocks,  or  running  before  the  dogs  to 
keep  them  in  the  track,  he  started  on  his  return  without  sleep.  This 
labor  kept  up  for  a  week  involves  no  trifling  exertion. 

The  next  most  conspicuous  trait  in  our  commander  was  his  indefati- 
gable scientific  research.  He  never  took  a  walk,  much  less  made  a 
journey, — not  even  the  desperate  march  for  the  relief  of  the  first  party, 
— without  looking  intelligently  at  the  ice,  the  land,  the  atmosphere,  the 
effect  of  the  temperature  on  the  men,  and  obtaining  results  for  his  note- 
book. It  may  be  some  proof  of  his  sanguine  confidence  in  the  ultimate 
safety  of  the  party  during  the  most  trying  periods,  that,  while  he  was  ever 
disposed  to  cheer  and  encourage  the  spirits  of  those  around  him,  at  the 
same  time  he  did  not  relax  in  the  prosecution  of  his  journals  and  registers. 

His  private  journal  was  regularly  written  by  his  own  hand  at  the  close 
of  each  day;  or,  if  unavoidably  postponed  a  few  days,  it  was  brought  up 
at  the  earliest  practicable  moment.  He  reviewed  the  log  in  the  after- 
noon, and  generally  added  some  notes  of  his  own  to  the  remarks  of  the 
watch- officer. 

His  sketches  were  nearly  all  made  on  the  spot, — the  more  elaborate 
of  them  finished  in  the  cabin.  They  bear,  I  think,  an  intrinsic  truthful- 
ness in  their  appearance  which  speak."  for  itself.  They  certainly  far 
surpass  any  illustrations  of  Arctic  .scenery  which  I  have  ever  seen. 
The  landscapes  are  as  faultless  fur  general  inspection  as  photographs.  It 
is  difficult  to  conceive  that  the  picture  of  Sylvia  Headland  and  the  Floe 
is  not  engraved  from  a  photograph.  The  portraits  of  the  Esquimaux  are 
equally  excellent.  During  the  first  winter  Dr.  Kane  frequently  occupied 
himself  with  painting  in  oil ;  but,  during  the  long  night  of  the  second, 
chart-making  was  substituted,  as  being  more  in  keeping  with  the  lack 
of  conveniences. 


LETTER  FROM  HENRY  GOODFELLOW.    283 

The  social  demeanor  of  our  commander  wa3  cheerful  and  affable,  even 
gay.  He  did  h.s  best  to  devise  recreations  and  promote  the  most  bar- 
momous  sociaUntercourse.     He  patronized  the  ship's  newspaper,  edited 

Lste      TheT  r;-:'  "T'^'  *'^^^^"°^"^  and  caption  with  'artistic 
taste,     i  he  best  of  Its  articles  were  by  him 

It  WM  hi,  usual  praolieo  to  pla,  a  game  or  two  of  cheB,  after  supper, 

he  6,.t  wuter     Cards  were  permitted  ooly  ,  ,  Wednesday  aud  SaL 

day  eveu.„gs.     Th.,  rule  was  adopted  to  prevent  too  great  {  devotioo  to 

the  fascinating  pasteboards. 

from  ZZ^^^     ""'•  ^'":  ""  '"  *'^*  "^°^'  ^'-«  ^-'^  -P-ted 
f  om  his  event  ul  career  and  varied  attainments.    He  seldom  referred 

reser  e,   but  his  descriptive  powers  were  frequently  employed  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  little  circlo  around  him.  P   y  «  lor  tne 

He  made  a  great  point  of  urging  the  use  of  lime-juice  and  the  other 
anti-scorbu  ics,  and  habitual  exercise,  upon  the  officers,  and  the  keepin" 
up  of  a  cheerful  tone  of  mind.  His  cheerfulness  composure,  'anS 
aelf-command  never  flagged  at  the  worst  period.  His  own  custom  of 
exercise  was  regular  and  systematic.  He  frequently  took  long  walks  by 
moonhght,  inviting  one  or  two  of  the  mess.  One  litter  cold  evening  in 
the  middle  of  the  first  winter,  after  expatiating  upon  the  importance  of 

xereise,  he  playfully  chaUenged  the  first  officer,  Mr.  Brooks,  to  go  witl 
hmi  and  build  a  fox-ti^p  at  the  head  of  a  fiord,  two  or  three  mUes  off. 
Mr.  Brooks  accepted  the  challenge,  and  to  the  question,  "But  are  you  in 
arnes.  Brooks r  answered  ''Yes,  by  George,  I  am,  sir,"  wi'h  an 
earnestness  noc  to  be  mistaken,  and  spociaiiy  chuncteristic  of  the  stal- 
wart boatswain  They  went  and  accomplished  their  purpose.  But 
although  Mr.  Brooks  was  the  largest  and  perhaps  the  most  powerful 
man  belonging  to  the  Expedition,  he  ever  afterward  declined  accepting 
a  similnr  challenge  from  his  commander,  alleging  that  Dr.  Kane's  powers 
of  endurance  far  exceeded  his  own. 

Dr.  Kane's  dietetic  habits  were  the  triumph  of  principle  and  will 
over  nature  His  palate  was  delicate ;  yet  he  accustomed  himself  to  eat 
puppies  and  rat.,  as  he  had  always  before  accustomed  himself  to  the  diet 
of  he  country  in  which  he  sojourned.  He  sometimes  remarked  that  he 
bad  eaten  of  almost  every  animal  which  is  used  as  food  in  the  various 
countries  through  which  he  had  travelled.  The  advantage  of  being  able 
0  overcome  one  s  repugnance  to  the  flesh  of  proscribed  animals  is  very 
vident  to  anyone  who  has  been  in  situations  making  its  use  an  impera- 
tive  necessity.     When  our  Expedition  arrived  in  Greenland,  not  moro 


tt 


t 


If 

M 

••, 

ft 

I 


284 


ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


•MBS* 


than  one-third  or  one-fourth  of  the  ship's  company  could  eat  seal-meat 
with  any  satisfaction ;  and,  even  till  the  close  of  the  cruise,  some  of  our 
party  ate  their  raw  walrus  or  seal  meat  ".ith  little  zest. 

Even  during  the  second  winter,  with  all  its  squalid  discomfort  and 
privation,  Dr.  Kane's  thoughts  would  revert  to  the  Northern  regions  of 
search.  His  desire  to  look  upon  the  open  water  there  was  unabated  j 
and,  when  Petersen  returned  from  the  south,  in  December,  1854, 
he  questioned  him  closely  respecting  the  possibility  of  obtaining 
dogs.  When  afterward  he  had  obtained  them,  he  confidently  hoped  to 
pass  the  limits  of  the  farthest  explorations  of  the  previous  summer; 
but  the  defection  of  Hans  dashed  these  hopes  to  the  ground.  A 
sight  of  the  Great  Glacier  of  Humboldt  was  sufficient  reward  for  two 
days'  absence  from  the  brig.  He  still  clung  to  the  hope  of  passing  the 
glacier,  and  he  started  on  a  fine  morning  in  March  or  April,  while  active 
preparations  for  escape  were  going  on,  accompanied  by  Morton ;  but  this 
time  the  team  of  dogs  was  unequal  to  the  task,  and  the  sledge  returned, 
I  believe,  the  same  evening. 

Henry  Goodfellow. 
Philadelphia,  December  7,  1857. 


1  eat  seal-meat 
se,  some  of  our 

discomfort  and 
bern  regions  of 
was  unabated; 
icember,  1854, 
■  of  obtaining 
ently  hoped  to 
mus  summer; 
e  ground.  A 
reward  for  two 
of  passing  the 
•il,  while  active 
orton ;  but  this 
[edge  returned, 

ODDFELLOW. 


\anop  iff  ^r.  ^m^. 


REPORT 


OF    THE 


JOINT    COMMITTEE 


3 


APPOINTED     TO 


RECEIVE   THE  REMAIN'S  AND  CONDUCT  THE 

OBSEQUIES 


or   THE   LATE 


TT       T  n   ^  Philadelphia,  April  7,  1857. 

Hon.  Joseph  R.  Chandler.  ,     r      <»    "«(. 

Dear  Sir  :— It  has  seemed  to  the  gentlemen  composing  the  Committees  of  the 
City  Councils  and  of  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  which  have  had  the  direction 
of  the  public  solemnities  attending  the  funeral  of  the  late  Dr.  Kane,  that  a  report 
or  narrative  of  these  solemnities  should  be  written  and  preserved. 

It  has  been  thought  that  this  is  due  to  the  constituencies  of  the  respectivb 
Committees  which  have  united  in  directing  them,  and  it  has  also  been  thought 
that  thus  an  enduring  record  may  be  preserved  of  those  remarkable  and  im- 
pressive demonstrations  of  public  respect  which  attended  the  passage  to  tho 
tomb  of  the  remains  of  a  citizen  so  gifted  and  so  renowned. 

I  have  been  instructed  to  request  you  to  prepare  this  narrative,  and  I  trust 
that  it  will  comport  with  your  feelings  and  your  duties  to  comply  with  the 
wishes  which  I  have  much  satisfaction  in  conveying  to  you. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 
' '  Truly,  yours, 

Theodore  Cutler, 
Chairman  Committee  of  Coundlt. 


•"•■J* 


m  ^  -r,  Philadelphia,  April  27,  1857. 

Theodore  Cutler,  Esq.  f  "  *',  '■oo,. 

Dear  Sir:— In  compliance  with  the  request  which  your  favor  of  the  7th 
instant  has  conveyed  to  me,  I  have  the  honor  t6  present  a  report  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Joint  Committee  appointed  to  receive  the  remains  and  conduct  the 
obsequies  of  the  late  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane.  All  of  us  who  united  in  those 
arrangements  must  feel  how  eminently  due  they  were  to  the  deceased,  and  yet 
how  feeble  an  expression  were  they  of  the  deep  feeling  of  respect  and  regret 
entertained  by  our  fellow-citizens  for  Dr.  Kane. 

Very  truly,  yours', 

Joseph  R.  Chandler, 
Chairman  of  the  Joint  CommiUee. 


286 


3^mi  4  M  ®h^m^% 


or 


DR.  ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


pril  27,  1857. 


To  ordinary  record  we  may  safely  trust  the  ordinary  occurrence  of  the 
day;  and  the  chroniclers  of  passing  events  will  not  fail  to  do  justice  to 
whatever  is  deemed  worthy  of  commemoration.     But   the   record    of 
unusual  occurrences,  it  may  be  admitted,  is  entitled  to  more  than  the 
ordinary  means  of  perpetuation,  and  especially  when  public  demonstra- 
tions denote  a  full  appreciation  of  great  and  good  acts.      The  public 
press  reflects,  with  wonderful  accuracy,  ordinary  and  extraordinary  pro 
ceedings  which  daily  take  place  ;  but,  with  a  fidelity  that  constitutes  its 
excellence  and  its  power,  that  press  reflects  all  alike,  and  the  perfection 
of  the  whole  seems  to  render  it  difficult  to  contemplate  with  desirable 
abstraction  any  single  event  which  it  presents.    There  are  circumstances, 
too,  which  render  it  proper  to  make  a  speciality  of  some  extraordinary 
demonstration,,  not  merely  to  augment  the  honors  bestowed  upon  the 
person  or  fame  of  a  distinguished  individual,  but  to  do  justice  to  the 
purity  and  correctness  of  public  sentiment  in  which  those  honors  origi- 
nated,  and  by  which  they  were  made  the  reward  and  stimulus  to  distin- 
guished  public  virtue. 

The  deep  and  general  interest  manifested  in  the  proceedings  relative 
to  the  honorable  reception  of  the  remains  of  the  late  Dr.  Elisha  Kent 
Kane,  and  in  the  solemn  public  obsequies  which  followed,  renders  it 
appropriate  that  those  to  whom  was  delegated  the  duty  of  arranging 
and  conducting  those  ceremonies  should    make   public   report  of^ho 
origin  of  their  power  and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  exercised:  and 
the  following  statement  of  the  proceedings  of  the  several  bodies  which 
were  represented  in  the  "Committee  of  Arrangements"  will  show  the 
teelings  in  whicn  the  solemnities  originated  in  this  city,  and  the  senti- 
ment  which  it  was  the  duty  of  the  several  committees  in  their  joint  notion 
to  illustrate. 

287 


t 

I'mt 

'31 


lilt 


iv* 


288 


'mt" 


o 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


CITY  COUNCILS. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Councils  of  Philadelphia,  held  Feb- 
ruary  26,  1857,  Mr.  Cuyler,  in  Select  Council,  upon  unanimous  leave, 
submitted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  prefacing  them  with 
the  following  remarks  : — 

Mr.  President  :— I  beg  leave  to  ask  the  unanimous  consent  of  the 
Chamber  to  an  interruption  of  its  accustomed  duties,  for  the  purpose  of 
offering  a  preamble  and  resolutions.  They  are  expressive  of  the  high 
sense  the  city  of  Philadelphia  entertains  of  the  glory  and  renown  which 
attend  the  achievements  of  one  of  the  noblest  of  her  sons  in  the  cause 
of  science  and  of  humanity;  and,  alas!  they  are  expressive,  too,  of  her 
sadness  at  his  early  death,  and  of  her  desire  to  do  honor  to  his  memory. 
The  death  of  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane  has  added  another  name  to  that  list 
of  great  and  noble  men,  born  among  us,  whose  cherished  memorie? 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  places  among  her  crown  jewels. 

It  has  happened  to  us,  sir,  often  before,  that  we  have  been  called  upor 
to  mourn  the  death  of  citizens  who  have  won  for  themselves  a  prouc 
distinction,  sometimes  in  military  affairs,  and  sometimes  in  statesman 
ship  or  diplomacy,  or  perhaps  in  the  higher  walks  of  professional  life- 
but  not  before  this,  within  my  recollection,  has  it  happened  to  us,  as  ii 
this  instance,  where  he,  whose  body  is  now  borne  hither  that  his  ashei 
may  mingle  with  his  native  soil,  was  a  martyr  in  the  cause  of  science 
and  of  humanity.  I  do  not  propose,  sir,  to  speak  of  the  career  of  Dr. 
Kane.  The  great  events  of  his  life  are  known  to  all'  of  us.  They 
were  wrought  out  by  the  high  faith  and  the  noble  impulses  of  a  pure 
heart  and  an  earnest  nature.  These  steeled  his  heart  to  the  delights  of 
life,  when  the  sad  cry  of  suffering  humanity  called  him  to  deeds  of  noble 
daring.  These  raised  his  feeble  frame  above  bodily  weakness,  and 
enabled  him  to  triumph  over  cold  and  hunger,  and  kept  bright  and 
warm  within  his  breast  the  flame  of  pure  humanity  amidst  th^  never- 
melting  ice  of  Polar  seas  and  the  dreary  horrors  of  an  Arctic  wiutc. 

Mr.  President,  there  is  something  due  from  the  city  of  Phllsi  Iol].h(a 
to  the  memory  of  such  a  man.  He  whose  eventful  life  was  carried 
through  so  many  strange  vicissitudes  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe  will 
find  at  last  in  death  that  repose  which  seems  in  life  to  have  been  denied 
him  here  among  us.  Other  cities  through  which  his  remains  have  been 
ccrried  on  tlieir  ^/.mey  toward  this  their  place  of  burial  have  received 
them  with  ;n|irc».nate  honors.  I  am  persuaded  that  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia will  ;l)(3!re  to  .bestow  upon  them  also  her  tribute  of  respect,  and 


DR.   ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


289 


will  feel  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  receiving  and  committing  to  the 
tomb  the  remains  of  one  of  her  sons,  who  has  in  his  lifetime  shed  so 
much  of  lustre  upon  her  annals. 

J^fT'TrJ  f '''  "''  '''  '^^''''''''  '^  *^«««  sentiments,  and  1 
ask  of  the  clerk  that  he  will  be  kind  enough  to  read  them. 

Whereas,  The  body  of  the  late  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  of  Philadel- 
phia, who  d.ed  in  a  foreign  country  from  disease,  contracted  or  enhanced 
by  exposure  to  the  severity  of  an  Arctic   climate,  during  a  journey 
prompted  by  a  high-toned  and  chivalric  feeling  of  philanthropy,  and 
anoyoued  by  the  Government  of  our  Union,  is  on  its  way  to  his'native 
city  for  the  purpose  of  interment,  and  it  seems  to  be  fitting  that  some 
expression  should  be  uttered  by  the  representatives  of  the°  citizens "f 
I  hiladelphia,  indicative  of  their  sense  of  the  great  merit  of  their  deceased 
el  ow-citizen,  and  of  the  renown  and  glory  which  have  attached  to  the 
entire  country  from  his  admirable  achievements  in  the  cause  of  science 
and  humanity,  an  expression  which  is  responsive  to  similar  sentiments 
coming  from  various  parts  of  the  Union  :  Therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  city  of  Philadelphia  will  ret'ain  in  ever-rateful 
memoxy  the  noble  services  of  Dr.  Kane  in  the  cause  of  science  and 
humanity,  which  have  reflected  glory  and  renown  upon  his  native  city 
and  upon  the  whole  country.  ^' 

Resolved,  By  the  Select  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia,  that  a  joint  special  Committee  of  five  members  of  each  Chamber 
of  Councils  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  such  measures 
to  be  taken  upon  the  arrival  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  as  will  comport 
with  the  dignity  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  be  a  fitting  testimonial 
ot  her  respect  for  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane. 

[The  above  resolutions  were  adopted  by  both  Chambers  and  approved 
by  the  Mayor,  February  27,  1857.] 

To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  Select  Council. 
Gentlemen  :-Information  has  been  received  in  this  city  that  Elisha 
Ken  Kane  departed  this  life  at  Havana,  and  that  his  remains  are  on  the 
way  to  the  place  of  his  birth  for  the  purpose  of  burial.  A  citizen  of  Phila- 
delphia has  made  a  sacrifice  of  his  life  in  a  service  dedicated  to  philan- 
thropy and  science.  To  honor  the  memory  of  such  a  man  is  worthy 
ot  an  enughtcncd  community.     In  order  that  the  City  Councils  may 


c 

c 


'p. 


290 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


have  an  opportunity  to  take  such  action  on  the  fcubject  as  to  them  shall 
seem  appropriate,  I  have  considered  it  proper  to  address  them  this  com- 
munication. Richard  Vaux. 


/! 


O 


1^' 


Mr.  Perkins  rose  to  second  the  resolutions,  and  said : — I  know  nothing, 
sir,  I  can  say  in  relation  to  the  rosolutions  which  have  just  been  offered, 
and  which  I  rise  with  some  unction  to  second,  that  has  not  already  been 
better  e-  pressed ;  aud  ^c},  sir,  I  cannot  but  feel  I  owe  it  to  the  high 
esteem  aud  regard  I  have  ever  felt  for  that  distinguished  man,  to  offer 
my  humble  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Dr,  Kane  graduated  at  our  University^  I  think,  in  1 843,  as  a  physician, 
but  very  soon  extended  his  usefulness  far  beyond  the  usual  sphere  of  au 
ordinary  physician,  and  in  the  short  space  of  fourteen  years  has  built 
up  for  himself  and  for  hi:  country  a  world-wide  reputation  which  three- 
score year;?  and  ten  have  rarely  attained :  this  is  the  condensation  of 
manly  ambition ;  and  I  feel  pride  in  ca&ting  my  feeble  effort  to  add 
something  to  that  respect  and  regard  which,  as  a  fellow-citizen  aud 
fellow-countryman,  are  so  justly  his  due.  I  trust  the  resolutions  will  ba 
unanimously  adopted. 

In  the  Common  Council,  February  2G,  1857,  Mr.  Ilolman  offered  the 
following,  which  were  adopted  previous  to  the  resolutions  of  Select 
Council  being  introduced  into  that  chamber ; — 

Mr.  Holman,  on  leave  granted,  offered  the  following : — 

AVhereas,  We  have  heard  with  unfeigned  regret  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
Elisha  Kent  Kane,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  whose  brilliant  career,  as  an 
officer  and  explorer,  has  rendered  his  name  dear  to  every  American  citizen; 

And  whereas.  The  character  of  Dr.  Kane,  his  indomitable  courage, 
his  untiring  zeal,  his  enthusiastic  love  of  science,  and  his  sympathy  for 
the  suffering,  have  embalmed  his  memory  iu  the  hearts  of  all  who  cau 
appreciate  the  noblest  and  loftiest  qualities  of  human  nature  :  Therefore, 

Rtsoheil,  That  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane  was  not  only  an  honor  to  this 
city,  but  to  the  nation  at  large,  \nd  that  his  genius,  his  toils,  his  self- 
denial,  his  patience,  and  his  perseverance  throughout  a  most  arduous 
career  of  duty  and  philanthropy,  are  calculated  to  adorn  the  American 
character. 

Resolved,  That  we  sincerely  condole  with  his  bereaved  relatives  and 
friends,  aud  that  u  copy  of  these  resolutions  bo  tendered  to  his  afflicted 
family. 

Mr.  Henry  offered  the  following  joint  resolution  : — 

Eesoived,  By  the  oeiect  and  CommoQ  Cuuuciid  of  the  City  of  Pliiia- 


DR.    ELISHA     KENT    KANE. 


291 

delphia,  that  a  joint  special  Committee  of  five  members  of  each  Chamber 
of  Councils  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  such  measures 
to  bo  taken  upon  the  arrival  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  in  this  city,  as 
will  comport  with  the  dignity  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  be  a 
fitting  testimonial  of  her  respect  for  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane. 

The  joint  special  Committee  appointed  under  the  above  resolutions  is 
as  follows : — 

Select  Co««c^7. -Messrs.  Theodore  Cuyler,  T.  J.  Perkins,  Isaac  N. 
Marsehs,  John  Welsh,  Oliver  P.  Cornman,and  George  M.  Wha-ton 

Covimon  aHn.i7.-Messrs.  Alexander  Henry,  Andrew  J.  Holman, 
Henry  T.  King,  Joshua  T.  Owens,  and  D.  S.  Hassin-er. 


MEETING  OF  CITIZENS. 


In  pursuance  of  a  call  issued  by  Hon.  Richard  Vaux,  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  PL.ladelphia,  the  citizen,  assembled  in  the  District  Court-room 
on  l^riday  evening,  March  27,  1857,  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  with  the 
municipal  authorities  in  making  arrangements  fo-  the  reception  of  the 
remains  of  the  late  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  and  fo  appropriate  funeral 
solemnities. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Prof  John  F 
Frazer,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  on  motion,  his  Honor' 
Mayor  Vaux,  was  called  to  the  chair.  ' 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Isaac  Elliott,  the  following  gentlemen  were  ap. 
pointed  ^ 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

HON.  HORACE  BINNEY,  rev.  H.  A.  BOAHDMAN,  D.D. 

HON.  J.  11.  INGERSOLL,  joHN  A.  BROWN,  ESQ 

DR.  ROBLEY  DUNGLISON,  FREDERICK  FRALEV 

HON.  ELLIS  LEWIS,  john  WELSH, 

ppn.^J^^'^-n'^^^'"^'  ""^-  "»^0««E  SIIARSWOOD, 

PROF.  A.  D.  BACHL,  CHARLES  HENRY  FISHER 

COMMODORE  CHARLES  STEWART,     SAMUEL  V.  MERRICK 

On  motion  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Chandler,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  appointed 

SECRETARIES. 

J.  FISHER  LEAMINQ,  g.  AUSTIN  ALLIBONB, 

EDWI^  COOLIDGB. 

On  taking  his  place  as  Chairman,  Mayor  Vaux  stated  the  object  of 
the  gathering : — 

The  occasion  of  our  assembling  is  to  pay,  on   behalf  of  this  commu- 
uity,  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memoiy  of  Elisha  Kent  Kauo.     He 


C 


•J 


O 


292 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


lived  for  his  country,  philanthropy,  and  science.  He  died  a  victim  to 
tbe  devotcdness  of  his  life  to  his  life's  purpose.  A  citizen  of  Philadel- 
phia,  with  a  fame  coextensive  with  learning  and  humanity,  his  mortal 
remains  are  about  to  be  placed  in  a  grave  of  his  native  soil.  The 
nobleness  of  his  self-devotion,  the  heroism  of  his  contests,  the  results  of 
his  exertions,  the  cause  of  his  early  death,  have  placed  his  name  amon" 
those  of  whom  it  is  justly  said,  "  Dulce  ct  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori." 


k 


REMARKS  OF  HON.  WILLIAM  B.  REED. 

The  first  speaker  of  the  evening,  Hon.  William  B.  Reed,  then  rose 
and  said  : — 

3Ia.  Chairman  : — The  duty  has  been  delegated  to  me  to  offer  to  this 
meeting  the  draft  of  a  few  resolutions  expressive  of  the  feclin"  which 
animates  it.  I  perforr  that  duty  with  melancholy  pleasure.  The  reso- 
lutions are  meant  to  describe  in  precise  and  unexaggcrated  terms  the 
pervading  sentiment  of  this  community,  of  sorrow,  of  pride,  of  gratitude. 

Two  hundred  years  ago,  the  greatest  poet  (save  one)  that  ever  spoke 
the  English  language  said, — 

"  Pence  hnth  her  victories, 
Not  less  ronowiiM  than  wars." 

And  we  have  met  here  to-night,  in  this,  the  city  of  his  birth,  to  do  honor 
to  him  who  was  emphatically  one  of  the  heroes  of  peace  and  peaceful 
enterprise.     His  victories  wore  won  in  dismal  solitude  and  amidst  silent 
suffering, — in  the  gloom   of  Arctic  winter,  and  the  greater  peril  of 
Arctic   summer.     His  were   peaceful  conflicts,  away    from   humanity, 
while  the  rest  of  what  is  called  the  civilized  world  were  embroiled  in 
fiercer  and  more  ambitious  struggles  j    for  in  the  three  years  of  Dr. 
Kane's   last   adventure,  from    IMay,   185,'],  to  September,  LSSo,  when 
Hartstciie  (to  whom  be  all  honor,  too)  found  the  wayfarers  at  Jjieveley, 
the  outer  world   was  either  convulsed,  or  with  interest  watching  the 
bloody  strife  in  Southeastern    Europe.     I  do  not  pause  to  ask  whoso 
was  the  greater  heroism  :  those  who  fought  within  and  without  Sevas- 
topol, or  those  eighteen  American    men  who,  clustered   in   the  little 
cabin  of  the  Advance,  watched  and  suffered  during  two  Arctic  wintorc, 
and  hoped  and  struggled  for  but  one  reward, — the  discovery  and  n  soiio 
of  the  gallant  men  who,  right  years  before,  had  sutight  and  encountered, 
and,  as  the  result  has  shown,  had  been  sacrificed  to,  the  same  perils. 
Our  rhihidelphia  hero  was  with  the  heroes  of  peace,  in  solitude,  in 
iiloncc,  and  suffering.     Hcnco,  wo  have  reason  to  bo  proud  of  hlni. 


it 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


293 


patria  mori. 


We  have  gratitude,  too,  to  express.  The  wasted  frame  of  the  dead  is 
brought  back  to  us,  but  «e,  his  friends  and  townsmen,  have  been  made 
aware  .i.,t  the  last  hours  of  his  life  were  passed  in  foreign  lands 
among  those  who  were  personally  strangers,  and  yet  that  first  in 
J^ngland  where  no  American  gentleman  can  long  be  a  stranger,  and 
afterward  in  Cuba,  which  peaceful  affinities  are  every  hour  binding 
closer  to  us,  our  Philadelphia  man,  untitled,  undistinguished  except  b^ 
whao  he  has  done  and  suffered  for  humanity's  sake,  was  nursed,  and 
cai^d  for  and  consoled,  with  as  much  tenderness  and  affection  as  if  his 
bed  of  sickness  had  been  within  the  limits  of  his  native  land.  In  this 
our  gratitude  is  due. 

Our  sorrow  it  is  not  easy  to  describe,  simply  because  what  we  as  fellow- 
citizens  feel  seems  feeble  in  comparison  with  the  sharper  grief  of  rela- 
tives and  intimate  personal  friends.     The  community  mourns  for  an 
eminent  citizen      We  mourn  with  selfish  sorrow,  because  we  craved 
other  honors  which  he  might  have  won  for  us.     The  latent  hope  is 
frustrated  that  our  American  explorer-our  Philadelphia  adventurcr- 
rn.ght   had   h.s  life  been  prolonged,  yet  have  solved  the  problem  of 
l-rankhns  fate,  and  carried  back  to  our  fatherland  that  which  would 
have  been  mure  precious  than  the  abandoned  Ile.soIute,-son.e  survivor 
of  poor  Franklin's  band,  or  some  authentic  intelligence  (for  there  is 
real  y  none  such)  of  their  actual  fate.     We  sorrow  not  without  hope, 
wlHle   su<:h   men  as  Ilartstene,  and   Simms,  and  De  Iluvea  are   left 
with  us. 

Let  us,  then,  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the 
dead-our  Illustrious  doad-in  the  manner  which  host  becomes  lli  and 
us ;  with  dignity,  with  moderation,  with  decorum,  with  no  exaggerated 
ostentatmn,  with  no  effort  to  make  mere  ceremonial  transcend  thc^  limits 
of  actual  feeling.  Let  us  show  we  feel  this  blow  deeply.  While  other 
counnun.t.es^may  exceed  us  in  display,  let  Philadelphia~the  city  of 
Kane  s  b.rth,  and  education,  and  manhood-show  the  deepest  and  most 
earnest  feeliiiff. 

Mr.  Koed  then  submitted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  — 

The  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  convened  in  general  town  meeting,  at  the 

ad   of    their    Chief-Magistrate,    desire   to  unite  with  the  constituted 

utl.orit.es  induing  honor  to  the  me.uury  of  their  disti,.guished  towns- 

Jmm,  Dr.  Kl.sha  K.nt  Kane,  who  .•ocently  died  in  a  foreign  land,  and 

whoso  mortal  remains    now  appi-uach    their   final    rosting-place  in   his 

nat.vo  c.ty.     With  this  view,  they  have 

Resolved,  That  r-hiiuUelphia  discharges  the  simplest  duty  of  self- 


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294 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


&.-.  .-■  > 

MB*" 

O 


respect  in  doing  honor  to  one  who,  on  the  great  theatre  of  the  enlight- 
ened world,  has  attracted  the  interest  and  the  applause  of  all  who  sym- 
pathize with  the  noblest  impulses  of  humanity  and  watch  the  progress  of 
scientific  discovery  and  gallant  adventure. 

Resolved,  That,  aside  from  the  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  for  the  fame 
he  has  gained  for  Philadelphia,  as  Christians  and  citizens  of  the  world, 
we  honor  him  for  the  persevering  resolution  with  which  he  conducted 
the  second  American  Expedition  in  search  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  with 
no  superior  officer  to  control  or  direct  him,  and  no  other  support  in  lon^ 
years  of  trial  and  privation  than  his  own  moral  and  intellectual  rcaources, 
and  the  sympathies  of  the  gallant  men  under  his  command. 

Resolved,  That  the  English  people  owe  (and  we  doubt  not  will  gladly 
pay)  to  Dr.  Kane  this  especial  gratitude  : — that  be,  more  than  any  other, 
by  the  power  of  his  pen  and  the  influence  of  his  example,  awakened  the 
interest  of  America  to  the  career  and  fate  of  those  heroic  men  whose 
undiscovered  destiny  is  yet  the  problem  of  this  age  of  active  enterprise. 

Resolved,  That  Philadelphia,  sorrowfully  but  proudly  welcoming  the 
mortal  remains  of  her  dead  son  home  again,  thanks  with  earnest  sin- 
cerity the  distant  communities  whose  kindness  consoled  his  latest  hours 
upon  earth,  those  who  strove  by  all  the  appliances  of  professional  skill 
and  domestic  comfort  to  arrest  the  progress  of  disease,  and,  when  in 
another  land  the  hour  of  final  agony  came,  those  who  mourned  with 
tender  sympathy  around  the  bed  of  death. 

Resolved,  That  the  citizens  now  assembled,  thus  inadequately  express- 
ing the  general  sentiment  of  the  community,  will  unite  with  the  Councils 
and  the  other  authorities  in  such  funeral  ceremony  as  may  be  determined 
on,  and  that  the  Mayor  be  requested  to  appoint  a  committee  of  sixteen 
citizens  to  act  as  a  committee  of  arrangement. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting,  duly  en- 
grossed and  authenticated,  be  communicated  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased,  and  to  such  of  the  authorities  of  the  British  and  Spanish 
Governments  as  may  hereafter  be  dotermincd  on  as  best  representing 
those  whose  kindness  to  our  lamented  townsman  we  desire  to  com- 
memorate. 


MAJOR  BIDDLE'S  SPEECH. 

Major  Charles  J.  Biddle,  in  seconding  the  resolutions,  said : — I  am 
requested  to  .second  the  resolutions  which  have  been  offered  to  the  meet- 
ing.    In  BO  doing,  I  shall  not  tre.«ipa(sS  long  upou  your  iudulgouoe,  foi"  I 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


295 


see  present  many  gentlemen  whose  eloquence  may  find  an  appropriate 
theme  in  the  event  which  now  brings  us  together. 

This  meeting  is  not  an  assemblage  of  the  professional  associates  or 
the  personal  friends  of  the  deceased-such  as  are  convened  on  occasions 
of  ordinary  bereavement,— but  it  represents  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia, 
who  desire  to  join  with  the  municipal  authorities  in  paying  the  last 
honors  to  one  whose  career  rcticeted  honor  upon  the  city  of  his  birth. 
For,  at  this  moment,  there  is  no  man,  native  to  our  city,  whose  name  and 
fame  are  so  widely  spread  as  his  whose  untimely  fate  we  deplore.  At 
an  age  when  a  man  has  done  much  if  he  has  acquired  local  distinction, 
Kane's  celebrity  extends  throughout— nay,  beyond— the  limits  of  the 
civilized  world,  for  even  in  the  ice-bound  regions  of  the  North  Pole  his 
name  is  recalled  with  reverence  and  affection. 

But  it  will  not  be  inappropriate  for  me  to  leave  to  others  those  general 
reflections  which  his  career  suggests,  and  to  mention  a  circumsta^nce  of 
which  I  had  particular  opportunities  of  hearing.  During  the  war  with 
Mexico,  Dr.  Kane  obtained  a  release  from  other  duties  a^nd  came  out  to 
that  country  to  join  the  American  army.  With  his  ardent  and  chival- 
rous  teiuperamont,  I  can  suppose  him  to  have  heard  with  regret  that 
battles  which  decided  the  issue  of  the  war  had  been  already  fought  and 
won.  But  Providence  reserved  for  him  a  distinction  so  appropriate  to 
his  philanthropic  character,  that  all  will  perceive  how  much  more  it 
became  him  than  ordinary  military  honors. 

At  that  time,  there  was  employed  by  General  Scott,  for  purposes  of 
communication  and  intelligence,  a  company  of  Mexicans,  who  had 
attached  themselves  to  the  American  cause.  Dr.  Kane  arrived  at  the 
city  of  I'uobla  at  a  time  when  this  company  was  returning  from  an  expe- 
dition and  on  its  way  to  join  the  army.  In  his  eagerness  to  reach  that 
destination,  he  did  not  wait  for  a  worthier  escort,  but  placed  himself 
under  their  guidance.  Upon  the  road  they  met  with  a  Mexican  force, 
and  the  mutual  hostility  of  the  two  parties  led  to  an  immediate  encounter] 
in  which  our  adherents,  aided  by  Kane  and  encouraged  Ly  his  example' 
were  victoriou.s. 

But  the  enmity  of  these  renegades  against  their  own  countrymen  was 
not  restrained  by  the  rules  of  ordinary  warfare,  and  their  first  impulse 
was  to  improve  their  advantage  by  a  massacre  of  the  prisoners.  Against 
this  I  need  not  say  that  Kane  remonstrated ;  and,  when  his  remonstrances 
proved  vain,  ho  threw  himself  before  the  intended  victims,  and  made 
his  own  body  the  barrier  between  them  and  the  death  that  menaced 
them.     Single-handed,  his  dauntless  bearing  prevailed  in  that  struggle; 


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296 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


but  when  I  saw  him,  not  long  afterward,  he  bore  upon  his  person  a 
wound  from  an  intercepted  blow  aimed  at  the  life  of  one  of  the  prisoners,— 
a  wound  from  which  he  had  not  then  recovered,  if  indeed  he  ever 
entirely  recovered  from  the  effects  of  it. 

Here,  then,  I  say,  he  won  an  honor  consistent  with  that  benevolence 
of  character  which  was  to  impel  him  to  those  arduous  researches  the 
end  and  aim  of  which  wore  to  carry  aid  to  suffering  humanity.  Doubt- 
less all  of  us  thought  with  regret  and  sympathy  of  Franklin  and  his 
comrades,  lost,  starved,  frozen  up  iu  living  death,  ''in  the  thrilling 
regions  of  thick-ribbed  ice;"  but  their  cry  for  aid  seemed  to  reach  the 
very  heart  of  Kane,  and  he  girded  himself  up,  and  roused  the  enthu- 
siasm of  others  to  noble  and  powerful  and  persistent  efforts  for  their 
rescue. 

It  is  in  this  forgetfulness  of  self,  in  sympathy  for  others,  that  I  recog- 
nise the  traits  of  a  noble  character,  worthy,  fellow-citizens,  of  all  the 
honors  we  can  pay  to  it. 


PROF.  FRAZER'S  ADDRESS. 

Major  Riddle  was  followed  by  Professor  John  F.  Frazer,  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  who  spoke  in  eloquent  and  impressive  lan- 
guage of  the  scientific  attainments  of  Dr.  Kane,  and  of  the  name  and 
fame  which  he  had  acquired  by  his  industry,  his  energy,  his  trials,  and 
his  sufferings.  My  own  personal  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Kane,  said  he, 
dates  from  comparatively  a  late  period.  I  became  acquainted  with  him 
shortly  before  his  first  expedition  ;  but  I  know  few  persons,  and  in  the 
course  of  my  reading  came  across  few  sources  of  such  abundant,  tliorough, 
well-digested  information,  as  Dr.  Kane  brought  back  with  him  from 
every  expedition  he  made.  His  was  truly,  sir,  a  scientific  mind,— a 
mind  quick  in  its  observations,— a  mind  enthusiastic  in  its  appreciation, 
— a  mind  full  of  that  brilliant  genius  of  induction,  by  means  of  which 
he  was  enabled  to  see  the  connection  which  lay  between  phenomena 
which,  perhaps,  might  have  been  passed  unappreciated  and  been  for- 
gotten by  (itliers. 

Rut  it  was  not  merely  in  recording  science  that  Dr.  Kane  excelled, 
but  it  was  in  that  beautiful  di.sposition  which  enabled  him  to  see  some- 
thing beyond  what  is  ordinarily  considered  science.  He  was  enabled  to 
see  that  this  portion  of  his  study  was,  in  effect,  nothing  but  preparation 
for  a  LHoater  and  more  full  knowledge  of  more  grand  and  sublime  myste- 
ries hereafter. 


BR.    ELISIIA     KENT    KANE. 


297 


that  I  recoo:- 


MR.  CHANDLER'S  SPEECH. 

The  Hon.  J.  R.  Chandler  said:-After  what  has  been  said,  and  well 
said,  the  object  for  which  we  assemble  this  evening  will  find  its  -reatest 
approval.    Indeed,  sir,  the  public  grief  for  the  cause  for  which  we  assemble 
on  this  occasion  is  of  a  character  which  words  fail  to  express.     I  appear 
sir,  at  the  request  of  the  gentlemen  r,f  tlie  committee,  or  I  would  not  have 
trespassed  upon  your  time.     While  I  was  without  that  intimate  per- 
sonal  relation  with  Dr.  Kane  which  others  here  possessed,  I  was  deeply 
interested  in  his  public  movements,  and  greatly  concerned  for  his  last 
voyage  to  the  North.     And  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  concur  in  a  reso- 
ution  by  which  the  intrepid  g.ntleman  should  go  at  the  public  expense, 
iiut,  sir,  I  stand  here,  as  a  meniber  of  this  community,  to  say  how  deeply 
every  member  of  it  feels  the  loss  that  the  nation  has  sustained  in  the 
death  of  Dr  Kane,  and  to  express  our  appreciation  of  his  great  worth, 
and  his  noble,  generous  daring,  and  his  benevolence,  which  outstripped 
nil,  to  give  expression  to  those  feelings  which  such  acts  and  such  motives 
cxcite.-cxprcssion,  sir,  which  will  not  be  complete  until  every  individual 
benefited  or  honored  by  his  exertions  shall  also  utter  his  sentiments 
and  until  impartial  history  shall  have  handed  to  future  generations,  for 
admiration,  the  name  and  the  deeds  of  one  who  is  so  honored  by  the 
present  generation.     His  life  will  bo  the  history  of  private  griefs;  it  will 
be  the  history  of  many  sufferings,  and  a  statement  of  deep  and  of  abiding 
interest.     But,  sir,  lustory  will  do  justice  to  these,  ana  demonstrate  the 
propriety  of  any  movement  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  one  who  was 
so  distinguished.     It  would  be  scarcely  proper  in  any  public  meetin-  to 
attempt  to  follow  Dr.  Kane  through  his  interesting  movements  by  which 
he  has  connected  his  name  with  the  history  of  this  age.     The  gentleman 
preceding  me  has  given  an  edifying  anecdote  concerning  him.  "  It  would 
be  interesting  to  every  Philadelphian  to  follow  him  upon  his  track  across 
the  frozen  ocean,  to  fancy  one's  self  with  him  when  he  looked  down  on  the 
calm,.peaceful  Arctic  Sea  from  a  point  upon  which  perhaps  no  man  had 
ever  rested,  and  the  existence  of  which  had  been  recorded  by  no  pen  but 
his,  and  then  to  follow  him  from  that  cold  frozen  region  down  to  the 
sunny  climate  of  the  Antilles,  and  to  see  there,  festering  in  his  heart 
the  arrow  which  had  been  planted  there  at  the  North,  already  wasting 
his  life  in  disease,  and  now  looking  across  the  barrier  of  time  upon  the 
great  ocean  of  eternity,  which  he  could  not  describe,  making  those  last 
discoveries,  and  the   only  disonverio.   „„de  by  Dr.  Kauo  that  were  not 
for  the  benefit  of  those  whom  he  loft  behind. 


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298 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


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I  speak  now,  sir,  because  I  believe  it  proper  on  an  occasion  of  this 
kind  to  do  honors  such  as  this  meeting  is  called  to  do.  I  do  not  sup- 
pose, sir,  that  we  shall  add  any  thing  to  his  fame ;  but  it  is  to  our  own 
credit  as  Philadelphians,  it  is  to  our  own  credit  as  citizens  of  the  city 
that  gave  him  birth,  that  we  appreciate  his  deeds;  and  it  is  a  source  of 
gratification  to  every  Philadelphian,  and  the  friends  of  Dr.  Kane  espe- 
cially, that  while  he  was  busily  engaged  in  those  vast  pursuits  which 
gave  him  a  world-wide  fame,  that  while  he  was  looking  from  the  Equator 
to  the  Poles,  and  making  himself  familiar  with  all  that  concerned  this 
earth,  it  was  a  providential  blessing  that  he  was  not  unacquainted  with 
the  fickle  tenor  in  which  his  life  was  held. 

I  will  not  trespass  longer.  I  have  other  duties  to  perform ;  but  this 
was  a  solemn  one  to  me.  There  are  those  who  will  do  more  honor  to  his 
principles,  but  there  are  none  who  can  feel  more  deeply  the  honor  and 
glory  that  was  reflected  on  our  beloved  city  by  such  a  man. 


REMARKS  OF  REV.  DR.  BOARDMAN. 

Rev.  Dr.  H.  A.  Boardman  said : — I  am  here,  sir,  on  the  invitation  of 
one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Committee.  I  should  have  been  here  under 
any  circumstances,  (Providence  permitting;)  and  I  am  here  on  that  invi- 
tation simply  to  express  my  concurrence  in  that  object  for  which  this 
meeting  has  been  assembled,  and  my  sympathy  in  the  great  bereavement 
which  an  All-wise  Providence  has  seen  fit  to  visit  upon  us;  and,  if  I 
rightly  interpret  the  feelings  of  this  community  b^  my  own,  there  can 
be  but  very  little  of  the  mere  pageantry  of  grief.  We  are  not  here  simply 
to  express  our  admiration  for  Dr.  Kane. 

There  is  not  a  man  in  this  assembly, — no  !  there  is  not  a  man  in  this 
broad  land,  or  any  other  land, — who  has  read  those  picturesque  and 
beautiful  volumes,  whose  heart  has  not  gone  out  in  love  as  well  as  in 
admiration  for  him.  It  is  impossible  for  a  man  who  is  susceptible  of  any 
generous  sentiment  to  read  the  simple  and  graphic  records  of  his  labors 
and  his  trials  without  love,  and  not  feel  it  to  be  a  privilege  to  cast  if  it 
be  but  a  single  flower  upon  his  grave. 

Dr.  Kane,  sir,  has  established  a  name  and  a  place  for  himself  among 
our  men  of  science,  and  he  will  be  held  in  high  and  honorable  remem- 
brance by  the  scientific  associations  and  institutions  of  Christendom;  and 
they  will  not  fail  to  pay  every  homage  to  his  memory,  in  fitting  terms  and 
with  becoming  honors. 

Dr.  Kane,  sir,  has  gone  down  to  the  grave  lamented ;  and  this  bereave- 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


299 


brm ;  but  this 


ment  will  go  home  to  thousands,  to  millions  of  hearts,  just  in  propor- 
tion  as  that  work-I  refer  especially  to  the  last  work-whose  circle 
tljroughout  the  civilized  world,  like  the  tide,  is  continually  swellin-  and 
swelling  to  receive  new  appreciations.  Philadelphia  may  well  mourn 
Let  us  not  forget  the  intrepidity,  the  indomitable  energy  and  perse- 
verance,  of  Dr.  Kane. 

Sir,  there  is  not  an  act  recorded  in  his  volumes  which  is  in  the  leas, 
degree  tainted  with  the  element  of  selfishness.  He  stood  amon-  that 
company  not  as  their  leader  and  captain,-not  as  their  guide  and  teacher 
simply,-but  as  their  friend  and  their  father;  and  it  was  his  daily  care- 
yes,  sir,  and  his  daily  prayer-that  they  might  be  sheltered  and  protected 
at  whatever  hazard  of  personal  inconvenience  or  peril  to  himself. 

The  speaker  concluded  by  referring  to  the  scientific  acquirements  of 
the  deceased,  and  in  a  life  of  so  short  duration. 

Mr.  John  A.  Brown  suggested  that  the  citizens  should  adopt  some 
measure  to  secure  the  erection  of  a  suitable  monument  to  be  placed  over 
th(;  final  resting-place  of  the  deceased,  and  something  to  that  effect  should 
bf  embodied  in  the  resolutions. 

Mr.  Coolidge  moved  to  refer  this  to  the  committee  to  be  appointed 
under  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Brown  acquiesced  in  this  motion,  and  it  was  agreed  to. 

The  preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously  agreed  to. 

The  Mayor  announced  the  Committee  of  sixteen,  as  follows  :~ 
HON.  JOSEPH  R.  CHANDLER,       HON.  CHARLES  J.  INGERSOLL, 

PROF.  JOHN  S.  HART, 
AVILLIAM  B.  FOSTER, 
EDWARD  WARTMAN, 
THOMAS  S.  STEWART, 
HON.  WILLIAM  II.  WITTE, 
ALEXANDER  CUMMINGS, 
CHARLES  HALLOWELL. 

On  motion  of  Hon.  William  D.  Kelley,  the  meeting   adjourned  at 
about  8  o'clock. 


ISAAC  ELLIOTT, 
MAJ    CHARLES  J.  RIDDLE, 
HON.  WILLIAM  D.  KELLEY, 
'   "4ZLEHURST, 

•.vGE  CADWALADER, 
IS  .  ""AKER, 

JOo  .     HOMAS, 


CORN  EXCHANGE. 

A  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Corn  Exchange  was  held  February 
27,  1857. 

Colonel  S.  N.  Winslow,  after  a  few  remarks  in  regard  to  the  decease  of 
Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  moved  that  ]\Ir.  Alexander  G.  Cattell  bo  culled  to  the 
Chair,  and  Mr.  W.  S.  Pierie  be  appointed  Secretary,  which  was  agreed  to. 


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OBSEQUIES    OF 


Mr.  George  L.  Buzby  moved  that  a  comiuittee  of  three  be  appointed 
to  submit  a  preamble  and  resolutions  expressive  of  their  views  upon  the 
subject,  which  was  agreed  to. 

Messrs.  George  L.  Buzby,  Johu  Wright,  and  William  B.  Thomas 
were  appointed  on  the  committee,  who  submitted  the  following : — 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  an  All-wise  Providence  to  remove  from  his 
earthly  career  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane;  and, 

Whereas,  The  mercantile  and  commercial  community,  having  a  proper 
appreciation  of  the  eminent  abilities  of  the  deceased,  and  of  his  enthu- 
siastic and  untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of  science  and  philanthropy,  feel, 
in  common  with  the  rest  of  our  fellow-citizens,  the  irreparable  loss  which 
not  only  Philadelphia,  but  Pennsylvania,  and  every  other  city  and  State 
in  the  Union,  have  suffered  by  his  demise  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Corn  Exchange  Association  tender 
to  the  parents  and  relatives  their  sympathies  in  the  day  of  their  alfliction. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  membero  of  the  Corn  Exchange  Asso- 
ciation will  join  with  the  civic  and  military  authorities  in  rendering  an 
appropriate  mark  of  their  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and 
that  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  confer  with  similar  committees 
from  other  associations  upon  the  .subject. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  furnish  an  authenticated  copy  of  the 
above  preamble  and  resolutions  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

Mr.  Buzby,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions,  appealed  to 
that  proper  pride  which  ought  to  exist  in  the  bosom  of  every  Philadel- 
phian  when  a  distinguished  fellow-citizen  has  won  the  applause  of  an 
admiring  world.  There  certainly  was  that  strength  of  public  spirit  in 
the  Corn  Iilxchange  Association  which  insured  their  prompt  desire  to 
render  the  last  tokens  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  remarkable  man 
who  has  left  this  world  young  in  years  but  full  of  honors.  He  had, 
then,  he  was  sure,  only  to  propose  the  resolutions,  without  the  necessity 
of  any  lengthened  remarks,  which,  whilst  unnecessary  to  move  them  to  a 
proper  action  on  this  occasion,  must  necessarily  fall  short  of  the  tribute 
due  to  the  departed.  A  community  which  fails  to  respect  the  memory  of 
her  own  great  children,  and  to  furnish  those  outward  tokens  so  appropriate 
at  such  a  time  as  this,  has  lost  its  own  claims  to  the  respect  of  mankind. 

On  motion  of  George  McIIenry,  seconded  by  E.  G.  James,  the  pre- 
amble and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  Messrs.  James 
Steel,  C.  J.  Hoffman,  J.  J.  Black,  George  Raphael,  and  James  Barratt, 
were  appointed  on  the  committee. 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


ra  B.  Thomas 


nove  from  his 


301 

On  motion   Messrs.  A.  G.  Cattell  and  Samuel  L.  Ward  were  subse- 
quently added. 

On  Saturday,  February  28,  the  Committee  from  City  Councils,  and 
the  Committee  appointed  by  the  meeting  of  citizens,  and  the  Committee 
on  the  part  of  the  -Corn  Exchange,"  assembled  in  the  Select  Council 
Chamber  w.th  a  view  of  uniting  their  exertions  to  promote  the  objects 
for  which  they  were  severally  appointed,  when,  on  motion  of  Theodore 
Cuyler,  Esq  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Select  Council,  Hon. 
Joseph  R.  Chandler,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  from  the  meetin<. 
of  cifzcns,  was  appointed  Chairman  of  a  Joint  Committee,  and  H  G 
Leisinring  wns  appointed  Secretary. 

The  Joint  Committee  determined  to  do  all  in  their  power,  with  such 
means  as  they  possessed,  to  fulfil  the  intentions  of  the  several  bodies  by 
which  they  were  appointed,  and  to  make  such  arrangements  as  would 
allow  to  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  an  expression  of  their  high  regard 
for  the  merits  of  the  distinguished  dead,  doing  honor  at  once  to^the 
greatness  of  his  enterprise  in  the  cause  of  science,  and  to  the  beauty  of 
his  example  ,n  the  exercise  of  benevolence.  And  the  Joint  Committee 
DOW  respectfully  report  their  proceedings  under  that  organization. 

At  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangement, 
he  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  had  been  brought  from  Havana,  wherQ  he  died 
0  the  cty  of  New  Orleans,  where  they  were  received  with  distinguished 
honors,  which  were  continued  on  the  whole  route  from  that  city  to  Phi- 
lade  phia  making  the  passage  of  the  body  of  the  deceased  one  continuous 
display  of  public  regard ;  and  so  intimately  connected  were  these  demon- 
strations that  each  seemed  to  be  one  link  in  a  lengthened  chain  of  admi- 
ration and  affectionate  respect :  so  universally  felt  and  expressed,  and  so 
m  unison  with  public  sentiment,  were  they,  that  the  concluding  ceremonies 
m  1  hiladelphia  may  be  regarded  as  a  natural  termination  of  the  demon- 
strations  of  regard  commenced  at  Havana. 

And  hence  die  Committee  have  deemed  it  consistent  with  the  objects 
of  their  appointment  to  notice  briefly  the  testimonials  by  which  other 
communities  manifested  their  respect  to  the  character  and  services  of  the 
deceased. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Kane,  it  is  known,  occurred  at  Havana,  on  the  16th 
of  February,  1857;  and  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  resident  in 
that  city  or  transiently  there,  availed  themselves  of  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity to  express  their  grief  at  the  loss  and  their  respect  for  the  charac- 
ter of  their  distinguished  countryman;  and  it  is  gratifying  to  notice  that 


C 
% 

i 


0 


302 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


the  highest  authority  of  the  island  of  Cuba  has  commended  himself  to 
the  grateful  acknowledgment  of  every  American  by  his  promptness  in 
oflFers  of  aid  in  the  demonstrations  of  respect  to  the  deceased. 

The  subjoined  is  an  abstract  of  the  proceedings  in  Havana  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Kane  : — 


O 


PROCEEDINGS  AT  HAVANA. 

Havana,  17th  February,  1857. 

The  citizens  of  the  United  States  resident  and  transient  in  Havana 
were  this  day  called  together  at  tlie  Consulate,  by  A.  K.  Blythe,  Esq., 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  public  demonstration  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  our  much-lamented  fellow-citizen,  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane. 

At  two  o'clock,  a  very  large  number  being  assembled,  were  called  to 
order  by  General  Patterson,  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  after  a  few  remarks, 
nominated  the  Hon.  A.  K.  Blythe,  United  States  Consul,  as  Chairman, 
and  Henry  Tiffany,  of  Maryland,  as  Secretary. 

Mr.  Blythe  explained  the  object  of  the  meeting,  which  the  assemblage 
heard  with  deep  sensation;  and  he  also  submitted  the  following  note  from 
the  Goveruui-  Captain-General : — 


[copy — TR  A  NSL  ATION.] 

OJice  of  the   Governor   Captain-  General  and   Superintendent  of  the 
Exchequer  of  the  Ever-Faithful  Island  of  Cuba. 

(seal.) 
Government  Secretary  s  Office — Section  of  Government. 

I  have  received  the  communication  that  you  have  addressed  to  me, 
under  this  date,  soliciting  permission  that  the  American  citizens  residing 
in  this  city  may  meet  at  your  residence  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
public  demonstration  on  the  decease  of  your  fellow-citizen.  Dr.  E.  K. 
Kane.  I  have  the  greatest  satisfaction  in  acceding  to  the  wishes  ex- 
pressed by  you,  and  beg  of  you  to  make  known  to  me  the  result  of  the 
meeting  indicated,  that  I  may  unite  with  you  in  the  manifestation  that 
shall  be  resolved  upon  to  the  memory  of  that  distinguished  man  of 
8cienc».     God  preserve  you  many  years. 

Havana,  17th  February,  185/. 

(Signed,)  Jose  de  la  Concha. 


DR.   ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


303 


the  assemblage 
>wins  note  from 


To  the  Commercial  Agent  in   Charge  of  the   Consulate  of  the  United 

States, 

A.  K.  Blythe,  Esq.  :_  "^''^^''  ^'^'"""'y  ^^'  1867. 

Dear  Sir  :-His  Excellency,  the  Captain-General,  having  been  in- 
formed  that  Dr.  Kane's  body  is  to  be  taken  to  his  native  country,  and 
wishing  that  Its  transportation  to  the  vessel  selected  for  that  purpose 
may  be  effected  with  the  respect  due  to  his  merit,  has  resolved  to  place 
at  your  service,  -nd  that  of  his  friends,  the  Government  barge,  particu- 
larly as  there  are  no  American  men-of-war  in  port  whose  boats  might 
perform  this  sad  duty.  His  Excellency,  for  this  reason,  would  wish  you 
to  inform  him  beforehand  of  the  day  when  the  ceremony  will  take  place, 
in  order  that  he  may  give  the  corresponding  orders  to  the  boat,  and  thai 
some  of  the  members  of  the  Scientific  Corporations  of  this  city  may 
accompany  the  remains. 

(Signed,)  Manuel  Aquire  y  Tejador, 

Secretary. 
On  motion  of  General  Patterson,  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed 
by  the  Chairman,  to  present  resolutions  expressive  of  the  sympathy  of 
the  meeting.  The  committee,  consisting  of  General  Patterson,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Governor  H.  W.  Cushman,  of  Massachusetts,  C.  C.  Thomn- 
son  of  New  York,  Colonel  Robertson,  of  Havana,  and  James  Battle, 
of  Alabama,  reported  the  following,  which  were  adopted  unanimously  :-l 

The  late  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  having,  by  dispensation  of  divine  Provi- 
dence   terminated  his  brief  but  eventful  career,  we,  citizens  of  the 
United  States  resident  and  transient  in  Havana,  desiring  to  express  our 
grateful  sense  of  his  distinguished  services  to  his  country  and  mankind 
do  resolve,  ' 

First,  That  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Kane  our  country  has  lost  a  valuabl^^ 
and  world-renowned  citizen,  who  has  adorned  her  annals;  science  has 
been  deprived  of  an  ardent  advocate,  ever  ready,  by  self-abnegation,  to 
advance  her  interests;  and  humanity  a  devotee,  who  yielded  his  life  in 
obedience  to  her  commands. 

Second,  That,  whilst  we  deeply  deplore  his  loss  as  a  public  calamity, 
we  tender  our  heartfelt  condolence  to  his  parents,  brothers,  and  distressed 
relatives. 

Third,  That  these  resolutions,  with  the  letter  of  the  Governor  Cap- 
tam-Oeneral  m  relation  to  this  meeting,  be  presented  to  the  family  of 


ir^. 


304 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


o 


^     -» 


the  dccoasod.  and  a  copy  of  the  same  bo  made  public  through  the  press 
of  the  Unittd  St..ucs. 

To  the  same  committee  that  had  introduced  the  resolutions  was  re- 
ferred the  duty  of  assisting  the  family,  as  mourners,  in  removing  to  the 
steamer  the  body  of  Dr.  Kane,  for  conveyance  to  the  United  States. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  the  body  of  Dr.  Kane  was  borne  on  men's 
shoulders  to  the  Plaza  de  Armes,  followed  by  upward  of  eight  hundred 
persons,  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  subjects  of  other  countries. 
At  the  Plaza,  the  body  was  received  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
of  the  city  and  suite;  also,  by  various  associations,  who  joined  in  the 
procession  to  the  place  of  embarkation, — namely : 

Tlie  Inq^cvtion  of  Piillic  Instruction. — Messrs.  Dr.  Don  Nicolas 
Gutierrez  and  Don  Jose  Luis  Casascca. 

The  University/. — Dr.  Don  Antonia  Zambrana,  Rector  thereof;  Dr. 
Don  Fernan  Gonzales  del  Valle,  Dr.  Don  Angel  J.  Cowley,  Dr.  Don  Jos6 
Joaquin  Sibou,  Dr.  Don  Jos6  Sanchez,  Dr.  Don  Jos6  Ignacio  Rodriguez. 

The  Economical  Society/. — Don  Manuel  Ramos  Izquicrdo,  Don  Eu- 
genic de  Arriaza. 

The  Prq>aratori/  and  Eqiecial  Schools. — Don  Pelayo  Gonzalez, 
Director. 

The  Roijal  Board  of  Imjirovcments. — Don  Francisco  Campos  and 
Don  Jose  Valdes  Fauli. 

The  Superior  Board  of  Health. — Dr.  Don  Manuel  Jose  Valero,  Secre- 
tary thereof. 

27(6'  Mrdical  Department  of  the  Armi/. — The  In.'?pector  of  the  Corps, 
Don  Fernando  Bastarrcche,  Chief  of  the  .same  in  the  island. 

A  band  of  military  music  accompanied  the  procession  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  another  band  joined  it  at  the  Plaza.  The  State  barge  received 
the  body  and  the  mourners  at  the  place  of  embarkation,  and  conveyed 
them  to  the  steamer  Catawba.  The  boats  of  the  steamer  and  of  private 
American  vessels,  as  well  as  those  belonging  to  the  ships  of  other  nations, 
followed  in  solemn  procession. 

The  Spanish  flag,  which  had  been  hoisted  at  the  Cabaret,  was  lowered 
as  the  body  was  received  into  the  barge;  and,  on  board  of  the  Catawba, 
Brigadier  Don  Jos6  Ignacio  de  Echavarria,  Civil  and  Military  Governor 
of  Havana,  addressed  to  the  Committee  of  Arningements  and  thcperson>f 
present  the  following  discourse: — 

Gentt.kmkn  ; — Enlightened  communities  always  feel  themselves  bound 
to  render  a  tribute  of  respect  and  of  affection  to  those  privileged  beings 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


305 


ough  the  press 


Don  Nicolas 


who,  m  the  elevation  of  their  ideas,  are  ready  to  sacrifice  themselves  to 
acco,nph«h  an  object  of  interest  to  all  humanity.     Dr.  Kane  bclo,K.s, 
undoubtedly,  as  we  all  know,  to  this  class  of  celebrities.     His  ardc''nt 
scientific  zeal,  his  fervent  enthusiasm  fur  the  exaltation  of  his  country 
and  his  love  for  mankind,  impelled  him  to  investigations  in  the  frozen 
regions,  where,  through  imminent  perils,  immense  privations,  and  with  a 
self-denial  as  exemplary  as  it  was  enviable,  nothing  deterred  him  from 
the  accomplishment  of  his  object  lor  which  he  offered  his  health  as  a 
sacrifice      He  came  to  this  land  for  the  restoration  of  his  health:  and 
when  the  hope  began  to  be  entertained  of  accomplishing  it,  the  sad  event 
has  occurred  which  assembles  us  in  this  place.     All  the  inhabitants  of 
Cuba  would  have  shared  in  the  satisfaction,  if  his  life  had  been  spared  ; 
but  Providence,  in  Ilis  high  designs,  ordained  that  here  he  should  breathe 
his  last,  and  to-day  all  deplore  a  loss  so  important.     His  Excellency  the 
Governor  Captain-General,  entertaining  these  sentiments,  has  wished  to 
offer  a  public  and  solemn  testimony  thereof,  of  the  sympathetic  interest 
that  this  lamentable  event  has  awakened,  and  of  the  share  which  his 
Excellency,  together  with  the  scientific  corporations  of  the  island  and 
the  whole  country,  take  in  the  just  grief  of  the  fellow-citizens  of  Dr 
Kane   who  will  ever  bo  honored  by  the  memory  of  this  illustrious  man 
3Iay  be  rest  in  peace,  and  may  all  coming  generations  be  faithful  aud 
constant  to  his  memory,  to  preserve  and  cuhanco  it  as  it  merits  ! 

Mr.  Blythe,  United  States  Consul  at  Havana,  responded  to  the  above, 
in  the  folio Wi.g  terms : — 


4 
m 

0 

m 
0 
m 

I 


Sm:— I  regret  much  that  wo  have  not  a  common  language,  in  which 
on  behalf  of  my  countrymen,  I  might  express  to  you  our  deep  gratitude 
tor  this,  the  closing  act  of  so  great  and  generous  kindness  shown  to  the 
memory  of  our  deceased  fellow-citizen.     I  cannot  forbear,  however,  to 
avail  myself  of  the  occasion  to  declare  to  tho  Americans  hero  a.ssemblod 
that  his  Excellency  tho  Captain-General,  and  all  the  authorities,  have 
done  every  thing  suggested  by  us,  and  much  dictated  by  themselves,  to 
the  honor  of  lum  whose  loss  wo  all  deplore,  and  who  in  his  life  so  honored 
our  native  land.     I  rejoice  that  it  has  been  so,  for  two  reasons:  it  is  a 
just  tribute  to  him  who  faithfully  served  his  country  and  mankind,  and 
IS  evincive  of  a  spirit  of  amity  on  tho  part  of  those  who  have  so  gene- 
rously  co-operated  with  us  in  our  ,snd  duties.     The  mild  amenities  of  life, 
whether  socially  or  nationally  extended,  do  nnidi  to  mollifv  tb...  f-.lin<r« 
and  create  cordial  friendships:  when  to  courtesy  is  added  tho  exalted 

20 


^ 

O 


#•' 


O 


306 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


sentiment  of  humanity,  such  actions  are  the  result  as  command  our  grate- 
ful admiration.  AYith  great  pleasure  I  say  to  you,  my  countrymen,  that 
for  all  these  benignities  we  are  under  great  obligation  to  those  in  authority 
here.  Again,  sir,  in  behalf  of  the  people  I  represent,  I  return  to  you, 
and  the  other  officers  of  your  Government  who  have  so  generously  parti- 
cipated with  us  in  these  sad  rites,  our  sincere  thanks. 

The  whole  proceedings  at  Havana,  from  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Kane,  sick 
and  suffering,  until  his  remains  left  the  harbor  of  that  city,  were  marked 
by  delicacy  and  kindness  toward  him  and  his  friends  while  he  lived,  and, 
when  he  died,  honors  that  reflect  honor  upon  the  officers  and  people,  and 
appeal  to  the  finest  feelings  of  the  human  heart  for  appreciation  and 
gratitude,  were  bestowed  upon  his  memory  and  remains. 


CEREMONIES  AT  NEW  ORLEANS. 

The  Catawba  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  the  22d  of  February,  and,  as 
soon  as  the  steamer  reached  her  berth,  his  Honor,  Mayor  Waterman, 
promptly  proffered  to  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  the  city's  guardian- 
ship of  the  hallowed  remains  while  they  remained  within  its  limits; 
and,  th  ■  offer  being  gratefully  accepted,  the  company  of  Continental 
Guards  escorted  the  body  to  the  City  Hall,  where  it  lay  in  state  under 
the  honorable  guard  of  the  company  that  escorted  it  thither.  Every 
pains  were  taken  to  make  expressive  the  demonstrations  of  respect;  and 
the  manifestations  of  regard  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans 
were  such  as  to  do  honor  to  that  city. 

The  procession  to  convey  the  remains  to  the  steamer  Woodford,  that 
was  to  ascend  the  river,  was  composed  of  an  unusual  display  of  the  niili- 
tary  of  the  two  brigades  in  full  uniform,  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  a  large 
and  imposing  body  of  Englishmen,  the  Masonic  Order,  the  corpse,  with 
twelve  pall-bearers,  being  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  and  represen- 
tatives of  Civic  Societies,  the  ^fnyor  and  Recorder  and  Foreign  Consuls 
following  in  carriages.  The  Keystone  Club,  composed  of  Pennsylvaniuns 
and  citizens  in  general.  The  whole  proceedings  in  New  Orleans  were 
most  expressive  and  honorable  to  all. 

The  progress  of  the  steatner  that  conveyed  up  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Ohio  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kano  was  watched  with  intense  anxiety,  and 
whenever  it  was  possible  the  attempt  wag  made  by  the  people  to  give 
sppnt  which  the  lofty  character  and  cauobliuK  Bcrviee 


nYnrnaaion  t/i  t1i 


£\     t*/)0»>Alf 


n  r 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


307 

of  the  deceased  had  exeited.  Only  one  feeling  seemed  to  animate  the 
pubhc  mind  through  the  whole  progress  of  the  remains,-deep  and 
abiding  respect  for  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane,  and  anxiety  to  give  such  an 
expression  to  that  feeling  as  would  be  most  to  the  honor  of  him  who 
had  so  honored  his  country  and  his  kind ;  and  many  anecdotes  are  related 
ot  gentle  and  delicate  expressions  of  regard. 

At  Louisville,  Kentucky,  preparation's  worthy  the  high  credit  of  that 
city  had  been  made,  to  do  honor  to  the  deceased. 

In  anticipation  of  the  arrival  of  the  remains,  the  Mayor  of  Louisville 
issued  a  call  for  the  Councils  of  the  city  to  meet,  with  a  view  of  making 
proper  arrangements  to  do  honor  to  the  fame  of  the  hero  of  peace,  and 
public  meetings  of  citizens  were  also  held  to  unite  in  these  demonstra- 
tions. The  Order  of  Free  Masons  had  also  made  arrangements  to  lead 
in  this  manifestation  of  respect. 


CEREMONIES  AT  LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  respective  committees  on  the  part  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  city  authorities,  and  the  citizens  of  Louisville,  held  at  the 
Merchants'  Exchange,  March  2,  1857,  for  the  purpose  of  makin.-  all 
necessary  arrangements  for  the  reception  of  the  remains  of  Elisha  Kent 
Kane,  M.D.,  Captain  Thomas  Joyes  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  John 
I).  Pope  Secretary. 

His  Honor  the  Mayor  presented  a  communication  from  Gcorc-e  L 
Fcbryir,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  Cincinnati^ 
Ohio,  stating  that  extensive  arrangements  had  been  made  by  the  citizens 
of  Ohio  for  the  reception  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  in  that  State,  and 
asking  that  a  committee  of  escort  from  Louisville  be  appointed,  which 
would  bo  met  at  the  Miami  River  by  a  committee  from  Cincinnati. 

Which  was  read,  and  thereupon  Dr.  U.  E.  Ewing,  Col.  Thus.  Ander- 
son, Col.  L.  A.  Whiteley,  Capt.  Thos.  Joycs,  Dr.  Palmer,  Dr.  N   B 
Marshall,  Dr.  Lewis  Rogers,  James  S.  Lithgow,  and  Moses  Dickson,  were 
added  to  the  escort  heretofore  appointed  to  convey  the  remains  to  Cin- 
cinnati. 

Captain  Lovcl  IL  Rousseau  was  appointed  Chief-Marshal  on  the  part 
of  the^  citizens,  and  authorized  to  appoint  assistant  marshals  at  his 
discretion. 

The  following  programme  was  adopted,  and  ordered  to  be  published  :— 


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308 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


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PROGRAMME  FOR  THE  RECEPTION  OF  THE  REMAINS  OF 

DR.  E.  K.  KANE. 

Upon  the  signal  being  given,  the  respective  committees  of  reception 
will  assemble  immediately  on  horseback,  at  the  court-house,  and  pro- 
ceed thence  to  Portland,  where,  in  conjunction  with  Lew's  Lodge.  No. 
205,  they  will  take  charge  of  the  remains  and  accompany  them  to  the 
intersection  of  Maine  and  Twelfth  Streets. 

At  the  same  signal,  all  the  associate  bodies  and  the  citizens  who 
intend  to  participate  in  the  procession  will  assemble  as  follows : — 

The  Masonic  fraternity  at  their  hall,  corner  of  Market  and  Third 
Streets. 

The  firemen  at  the  Union  Engine  House. 

The  various  other  civic  associations  at  their  respective  places  ot^ 
meeting. 

The  citizens  on  foot,  in  carriages,  and  on  horseback,  at  the  court-house. 

Within  one  hour  after  the  signal  for  assembling  the  procession  will 
be  formed  at  the  oourt-house,  and  proceed,  in  such  order  as  may  bo 
directed  by  the  Chief-Marshal,  to  the  corner  of  Twelfth  and  Main 
Streets,  where,  upon  the  arrival  of  the  cortege  from  Portland,  the  pro- 
cession will  be  formed  in  the  following  order : — 

Chief-Marshal  and  Assistants. 

Music. 

Masonic  Fraternity. 


Pall-Bearers. 


Pall-Bearers. 


\% 


Family  and  Relations  of  Deceased  in  CarriajT^eg. 

Ileception-Coniniittce  and  Escorts. 

Members  of  the  Medical  Faculty. 

Members  of  the  Legal  Profession. 

Municipal  Authorities. 

Chief  of  the  Police  and  Assistants. 

Music. 

Fire  Department. 

Civic  Associations. 

Citizens  on  Foot. 

Citizens  in  Carriages. 

Citizens  on  Horseback. 


DB.   ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


809 


lEMAINS  OF 


The  sign, '  for  assembling  will  be  the  tolling  of  tbe  fire-bella  and  the 
firing  of  the  minute-guns. 

The  citizens  generally,  and  the  civic  associations  of  New  Albany, 
Jeffersonville,  and  the  adjoining  counties,  are  invited  to  join  the  proces- 
sion. 

Masonic  Reception  Committee.— IL  W.  Barr,  Frank  Tryon,  John  D. 
Pope,  Syl.  Thomas,  B.  A.  Flood. 

Citizen  Reception  Committee.— Qo\.  Thos.  Anderson,  Capt.  Thomaa 
Joyes,  Dr.  T.  S.  Bell,  Dr.  U.  E.  Ewing,  Col.  L.  A.  Whiteley. 

Pall.Bcarers.—^avand  Griffith,  S.  Hillman,  J.  C.  Hoffman,  G.  P. 
Schetkcy,  David  L.  Beatty,  David  T.  Monsarrat,  D.  Marcellus',  C.  C. 
Spencer. 

Masonic  Chief-Marshal. — Edwin  S.  Craig. 

Assistants.— li.  C.  Morton,  J.  H.  Shroder. 

Citizens'  Chiif.MarsJud.—Gn^t.  L.  II.  Rousseau. 

Route  of  Frocession.—Thc  procession  will  move,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Chief-Marshal  and  his  assistants,  up  Twelfth  Street  to  Walnut, 
up  Walnut  to  Second,  along  Second  to  3Iain,  down  Main  to  Fourth,  and 
out  Fourth  to  3Iozart  Hall,  where  the  Reception  Committees  and  Pall- 
Bearers  will  take  charge  of  the  remains  until  they  are  delivered  to  the 
escort  tc  accompany  them  to  Cincinnati. 

The  body  of  Dr.  Kane  was  received  with  great  ceremony,  and  con- 
veyed to  the  Mozart  Hall,  where  it  1,  in  state,  attended  by  a  guard  of 
honor. 

On  the  following  day  the  remains  were  removed  to  the  steamer.  The 
procession  was  headed  by  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  was  composed  of 
the  city  authorities  and  the  numerous  associations  of  the  place.  The 
whole  arrangement  of  reception  and  transmission  of  the  remains  in  the 
city  of  Louisville  was  of  the  most  liberal  kind.  From  Louisville  the 
remains  of  Dr.  Kane  were  conveyed  to  New  Albany,  Indiana,  and  appro- 
priately received  there. 

A  Committee  from  the  city  of  Cincinnati  here  met  the  New  Albany 
und  Louisville  Committee,  and  received  the  charge  of  the  sacred  remains 
and  conveyed  them  by  steamer  to  Cincinnati,  accompanied  by  deputa- 
tions from  the  cities  below.  The  feelings  of  deep  respect  expressed  in 
the  remarks  of  the  various  Committees,  as  they  resigned  or  received  th« 
charge,  were  eloquent  homages  to  the  great  merits  of  the  dead. 


310 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


CI*- 
I 

o 


CEREMONIES  AT  CINCINNATI. 
PROGRAMME  AND  ORDER  OF  ARRANGEMExNTS. 

MILITARY  AND  CIVIC  PROCESSION. 
FORMATION   AND   LINE   OF   MARCH. 

Grand  Marshal — Gassaway  Brasheara. 
Assistant  Grand  Marshals. 
General  C.  H.  Sargent,  Colonel  J-Tin  W,  Dudley, 

Charles  Hartshorne,  Ca"*;'  .  n.  v^.  Eu.dsall, 

E.  N.  Fuller,  E.    •        •     son, 

J.  P.  Epply,  W.  L         .rien, 

J.  B.  Covert,  Theopiiilus  Gaines, 

Theodore  Cook,  Thomas  McBirney, 

C.  W.  Rowland,  Joseph  Myers, 

Ambrose  W.  NeflF,  General  John  McMakin, 

Joshua  H.  Bates,  L.  Laboyteaux, 

George  Bogen,  Jr. 

MILITARY. 
In  order  as  follows : — 

United  States  Troops,  from  Newport  Barracks. 

Volunteer  Uniform  Troops,  from  abroad. 

Volunteer  Uniform  Military  of  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Division, 

Ohio  Volunteer  Militia. 

Independent  Uniform  Military  Associations. 

Clergy,  in  carriages. 

Mexican  Volunteers. 

Independent  Guthrie  Grays,  Captain  W.  K.  Bosley. 

Masonic  Fraternity. 
Pall- Bearers. 

Judge  James  Hall, 


John  Swasey, 
Geo.  K.  Shoenberger, 
James  F.  Torrence, 
Dr.  O.  M.  Langdon, 
Dr.  J  B.  Smith, 
Dr.  J.  D.  Dodge, 
General  James  Taylor, 
Larz  Anderson, 
William  J.  Schultz, 
Captain  C.  G.  Pierce, 
Joseph  Jones, 
William  Iloon, 
Joseph  Raper, 
C  F.  IlanKehnan, 
C.  Moore. 


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Pall-Bearers. 
N.  W.  Thomas, 
Judge  Van  Hamm, 
Captain  George  Hatch, 
James  Wilson, 
Dr.  A.  S.  Dandridge, 
Dr.  J.  F.  White, 
Dr.  George  Fries, 
Thomas  Porter, 
C.  W.  West, 
James  II.  Walker, 

E.  S.  Haines, 
C.  B.  Smith, 
John  D.  Jones, 
Bellamy  Storcr, 

F.  Bodmaa. 


DR.    ELISHA   KENT  KANE. 


311 


Relatives  aud  i  tiimediate  friends  of  deceased,  in  carriages. 
OtScers  of  the  Army  and  Navy. 
Coiaraittee  of  Arrangements. 
Physicians  and  Medical  Societies. 
Judges  and  Officers  of  State  and  United  States  Courts. 
Governor  of  Ohio  and  suite. 
Pioneers  of  Cincinnati  and  Ohio,  in  carriages. 
Trustees  of  the  Common  Schools. 
Independent  Order  of  Red  Men. 
Mayor  and  Public  Authorities  of  Newport. 
Mayor  and  Public  Authorities  of  Covington. 
Mayor  and  Public  Authorities  of  Cincinnati. 
Steamboat  Association. 
Turners'  Society. 
Independent  Order  of  Odd-Follows. 
Officers  and  Members  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  L.  Association.    ' 
Cincinnati  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

United  Irish  Association. 
Butchers'  Benevolent  Association. 
Citizens  in  procession  not  attached  to  any  association. 
Societies  and  organizations  not  yet  reported,  and  participating,  will  be 
assigned  places  by  the  Grand  Marshal. 

The  procession  will  form,  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
general  obsequies,  on  Fifth  Street,  with  the  right  resting  on  Fron°t  Street, 
displaying  east.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  remains,  they  will  be  received 
and  in  procession  escorted  east  on  Fifth  Street  to  Western  Row,  south 
on  Western  Row  to  Fourth  Street,  east  on  Fourth  Street  to  Broadway, 
south  on  Broadway  until  the  right  of  the  procession  shall  rest  at  Front 
Street,  where  the  c(.lumn  will  halt,  and,  with  honors  paid  the  remains, 
be  dismissed  by  the  Grand  Marshal. 

All  associations  and  organizations  designated  in  the  programme  of 
procession,  and  others  intending  to  participate,  will,  on  the  morning  of 
the  funeral  obsequies,  report  themselves  through  each  others'  own  officer, 
or  marshal,  to  the  Grand  Marshal,  who  will  be  found  at  the  Mechanics' 
Institute  Building,  southwest  corner  of  Vine  and  Sixth  Streets,  up  to 
the  hour  of  formation  of  procession.     By  order  of 

THOMAS  TF    WEISNER,         p.  IJNCK 
BENJAMIN    iGGLESOxV, 


W.  S.  FLAOG, 
JOSEPH  TOURENCE, 
W.  K.  liOSl.EY, 
W.  B.  DODD, 
JOHN  D.  JONES, 


JOSEPH  DARR, 
JAMES  C.  HALL, 
JOSEPH  K.  SMITH, 
(}.  L.  FRBT(4ER 
C.  H.  SARGENT, 

Committee  of  Arrangcmeutt, 


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312 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


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At  twelve  o'clock  M.,  March  6,  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Gene- 
ral  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  funeral  obsequies  of  Dr.  E.  K. 
Kane,  to  receive  the  remains  of  the  lamented  dead  from  the  Louisville 
and  New  Albany  Committee,  in  whose  charge  they  were,  proceeded  to 
the  mail-boat  Jacob  Strader,  and,  placing  themselves  under  the  charge 
of  Captain  Blair  Summons  and  Dr.  Dunning,  at  one  o'clock  the  boat 
slipped  her  cables,  and  moved  off,  like  a  thing  of  life,  down  the  Ohio. 

The  Committee  consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen  : 

THOS.  H.  WEASNER,  CHAS.  ANDERSON, 

JNO.  C.  SCHOOLEY,  GEO.  L.  PEBIGER, 

DR.  T.  N.  WISE,  E.  B.  REED. 

An  appropriate  badge  had  been  prepared  for  the  Committee,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  description : — 

FIDELIS  AD  URNAM. 


WE 
MOURN 

THE  DEATH  OP 
THE 

GREAT  EXPLORER,  RIPE  SCHOLAR,  AND  NOBLE 
PHILANTHROPIST. 

WHOSE   NAME 

ADDS  LUSTRE  TO  A  MIGHTY  NATION. 


HIS  MEMORY 

SHALL   BE 

IMMORTAL  I 


About  five  o'clock,  as  the  boat  proceeded  on  her  way,  she  was  met  by 
quite  a  heavy  snow-storm,  which  soon  whitened  the  shore  on  either  band, 
and  reminded  the  Committee  forcibly  of  their  mission.  They  were  to 
receive  the  remains  of  one  who  had  battled  with  fiercer  snow-storms 
and  far  kcoacr  blasts,  not  on  the  bosom  of  the  Ohio,  but  on  the  rousrh 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT  KANE. 


313 


nittee,  of  which 


Arctic  seas,-no  in  the  midst  of  civilization,  and  in  sight  of  land,  but 
where  on  every  hand  naught  but  the  dreary  iceberg  and  a  frozen  sea 
encompassed  him.  What  more  fitting  herald  of  the  approaching  steamer 
which  bore  the  remains  of  the  great  Arctic  explorer  than  this  sudden 
March  snow-storm  ?  Each  one  of  the  Committee  felt  there  was  a  sig- 
nificance in  it  beyond  their  ken. 

The  Committee  at  first  disembarked  at  Warsaw,  expectin-  that  it 
would  be  the  best  point  to  await  the  coming  of  the  Telegraph,  which 
bore  the  remains.  But  Captain  Summons  assured  them  that  he  would 
place  them  safely  on  board  the  Telegraph,  if  he  did  not,  as  he  anticipated, 
meet  her  at  Vevay,  when  the  Committee  again  placed  themselves  under 
his  charge,  and  in  a  short  time  had  the  satisfaction  of  reaching  Vevay 
just  as  the  Telegraph  was  rounding  to  at  that  point.  They  stepped  from 
one  boat  to  the  other,  and  were  received  by  the  Committees  from  Louis- 
ville  and  New  Albany,  who  had  the  remains  in  charge.  The  following 
were  ihe  gentlemen  composing  said  Committees  :— 

On  behalf  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of  Louisville,  L.  T.  Sedgwick 
Frank  Tryon.  ' 

On  behalf  of  the  City  Council  of  Louisville,  Andrew  Monroe,  D. 
Sargant. 

On  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Louisville,  John  Barbee,  Mayor,  Dr 
Flint,  Captain  P.  A.  Key.  >        J    ^       • 

On  behalf  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of  New  Albany,  John  K.  Ca 
meron,  C.  M.  Johnstone,  F.  C.  Johnson,  G.  W.  Bartlett. 


RELATIVES  OF  THE  DECEASED. 

The  Cincinnati  Committee  was  then  introduced  to  the  relatives  of  the 
deceased,  consisting  of  three  brothers.  The  fa"er  and  mother,  bein- 
well  advanced  in  years,  had  returned  to  Philadelphia,  it  being  thougir* 
ui^advisable  that  they  should  bear  the  fatigue  of  travelling  with  the 
corpse  of  their  son  at  the  slow  rate  which  was  rendered  u°ecessary  in 
order  that,  at  difi-erent  points,  the  people  might  show  their  respect 
and  receive  the  remains  with  appropriate  honors.  The  eldest  of  the 
brothers, 

COLONEL  T.  L.  KANE, 

Is  said  to  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  deceased.  He  is  rather 
below  the  medium  height,  square  but  delicately  built,  with  an  expansive 
chest.      His  hair  is  dark  brown;  he  wears  small  side-whiskers,  with 


iiljll 


Sill,.' 


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314 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


niustacho  and  goatee.  His  eye  is  piercing  and  dark.  Altogether,  his 
appearance  is  prepossessing,  and  ho  looks  the  thorough  gentleman.  He 
is  apparently  in  delicate  health.  His  face  is  at  once  sad  and  impressive. 
By  profession.  Colonel  Kane  is  an  attorney.     His  age  is  thirty-two. 

ROBEIIT   1'.  KANK. 

This  gentleman  is  somewhat  taller  than  his  brother,  Colonel  Kane, 
though  not  so  squarely  built.  He  is  rather  slender;  has  light  hair, 
blue  eyes,  wcara  a  light  mustache,  and  has  the  air  of  a  gentleman  who 
has  mingled  much  in  society;  converses  fluently  and  well.  His  ago  is 
about  thirty.     Ho  is  also  an  attorney. 

DU.  JOHN    K.  KANE. 

This  gentleman  is  the  largest  one  of  the  brothers,  but  is  not  above 
the  medium  height.  Ho  has  a  very  fresh  look,  and  is  the  blonde  of  the 
family.  Ho  has  an  open,  frank  countenance,  with  a  retiring,  unas- 
suming demeanor.  He  is  by  profession  a  physician,  and  is  connected 
with  the  Philadelphia  Hospital.     His  age  is  about  twenty-three. 

The  name  of 

WILLIAM    MORTON 

will  no  doubt  be  fomiliar  to  all  who  have  rend  the  account,  of  the  last 
Arctic  li^- 'edition  under  the  command  of  the  lamented  Kane.  This 
gentleman  saileu  'o  England  with  Dr.  Kane,  and  thence  to  Havana,  and 
now  accompanies  the  remains  to  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Morton  was  born  in 
Ireland,  but  left  his  native  laud  at  a  very  early  age,  and  has  now  been 
in  America  about  seventeen  years.  He  first  became  ac(iuainted  with 
Dr.  Kane  in  California,  and,  after  one  voyage  to  the  Polar  seas,  joined 
the  Arctic  Expedition  under  Dr.  Kane,  and  sailed  on  the  ill-fated  ''Ad- 
vance." Mr.  Morton  was  the  one  who  volunteered  with  the  Esquimaux 
boy  to  go  north  in  search  of  the  open  sea,  and  after  a  circuitous  and 
fatiguing  route  of  three  hundred  miles,  dragging  their  sledges  over  the 
icebergs,  the  great  Polar  Sea  was  discovered,  and  the  noble  Morton  (in 
whom  every  one  will  I  oco-ne  interested  in  reading  Kane's  account)  is 
now  the  only  living  wh,.io  man  who  has  ever  beheld  the  great  open 
Polar  Sea,  whose  cold  waters  roll  and  toss  against  the  icebergs  of  the  far- 
distant  North. 

Mr.  Morton  is  now  but  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  has  the  appear- 
ance of  one  who  could  well  undergo  the  fatigue  of  an  Arctic  winter, 
and  in  reply  to  a  question  if  he  had  any  desire  to  return,  he  said, 
"Never,  unless  I  could  have  gone  with  my  old  comrade  the  doctor." 


i> 


DB.  ELISIIA  KENT  KANE. 


315 


Colonel  Kane, 
bas  light  hair, 
gentleman  who 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  REMAINS  BY  THE  CINCINNATI 

COMMITTEE. 

The  different  Committees,  after  the  steamers  had  got  fairly  under  way, 
nie  together  m  the  centre  of  the  cabin,  when  Mr.  Woisner,  Chairman 
of  the  Cincinnati  Committee,  notified  the  Committees  of  Louisville  and 
New  Albany  that  the  Committee  which  ho  had  the  honor  to  represent 
were  ready  to  receive  the  remains  of  the  deceased;  whereupon  Mr. 
Andrew  Monroe,  in  behalf  of  the  various  Committees,  made  the  follow- 
lug  remarks : — 

Mr    Chairman  .—The  people  of  Louisville  and  New  Albany  are 
moved  by  the  same  melancholy  impulses  which  have  brought  you  here 
and  joi.  :ng  their  voices  in  that  universal  wail  of  woe  which  has  gone 
up  from  one  end  of  our  bereaved  country  to  the  other,  in  consequence 
of  the  death  of  the  disvinguished  devotee  of  knowledge  a.d  humanity, 
Dr.  Lhsha  Kent  Kane.     Influenced  by  these  impulses,  and  cherishinc. 
a  holy  regard  for  the  now  lifeless  tenement  of  a  noble  soul,  and  for  the 
mourning  surviving  friends  and  relatives  who  accompany  it,  they  have 
by  a  general  meeting  of  their  people,  their  municipal  authorities,  and  Ma^ 
sonic  Fraternity,  received  the  body  under  their  charge,  and,  after  payin« 
that  honor  which  their  high  appreciation  of  Dr.  Kane's  great  qualities 
demanded,  have  intrusted  it  to  our  charge  as  their  Committee,  to  be  by 
us  transferred  to  the  people  of  Cincinnati.     As  the  organ  of  the  several 
Committees,  the  people,  municipal  authorities,  and  Free  Masons,  I  now 
commit  the  remains  to  your  charge,  as  the  represontativ^es  of  your  city. 
Pernut  me  to  say,  in  discharging  a  melancholy  duty,  mingled  with 
that  pleasure  which  we  always  feel  in  paying  our  honors  to  the  distin- 
guished dead,  that  the  people  of  Kentucky,  in  brnoring  the  dead,  have 
conferred  honor  upon  themselves.    Those  States,  chose  cities,  appreciate 
the  services  of  the  pioneer  in  discovery  and  martyr  to  humanity,  and 
by  the  array  of  numbers  which  poured  forth  to  meet  his  remains  and 
escort  the  body  to  its  place  of  sepulture,  have  vindicated  their  title  to  all 
i  claim  for  them. 

It  is  peculiarly  appropriate  just  here  to  remind  each  other  of  the  cha- 
racter and  extent  of  the  services  we  are  approbating.  The  thousands 
Who  moved  in  solemn  procession  through  the  streets  of  Louisville  to-day 
were  not  actuated  by  party  feeling  nor  by  a  love  for  military  renown. 
Othnr  ages  and  other  countries  have  vied  with  each  other  in  giving 


316 


OBSEQUIES   OP 


'ff 


•JU* 

O 


costly  honors  and  grand  displays  of  pageantry  to  party  leaders  and  niili- 
tary  heroes.  They  would  shower  wealth  and  applause  upon  their  living 
heads,  and  strew  their  paths  with  fragrant  flowers  and  cushions  of  velvet 
upon  which  to  press  their  royal  feet,  and  erect  costly  and  magnificent 
monuments  to  the  memory  of  victors  upon  battle-fields  and  in  senate- 
chamber  when  dead.  But  it  is  reserved  for  this  age  and  this  country 
to  shower  their  honors  and  distinguished  marks  of  esteem  and  enthu- 
siastic admiration  up-n  one  neither  prominent  upon  the  battle-field  nor 
in  the  political  arena  Here  we  have  city  after  city  pouring  out  by  thou- 
sands to  meet,  and  joining  in  grand  procession  to  escort  from  one  city 
to  another,  the  remains  of  a  man  who  never  fought  a  battle,  never  held  a 
seat  in  senate-chamber, — a  man  who  was  devoted  to  no  political  party. 
But  on  account  of  his  assiduous  devotion  to  science,  his  contributions  to 
the  general  knowledge  of  the  world,  and  the  pure  virtue  and  induuii- 
table  energy  displayed  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  in  seeking  in  a  tar-ofi" 
land  the  lost  and  wrecked  inhabitants  of  another  country,  their  hearts 
are  filled  with  love  for  his  virtues,  and  by  their  acts  they  evidence  their 
pride  in  him  as  their  countryman.  It  speaks  well  for  the  taste  and 
character  of  our  people  when  we  see  such  regard  paid  the  disciples  of 
science, — to  honors  won  in  the  peaceful  but  laborious  investigations  into 
the  earth's  formation.  It  speaks  well  for  us  when  we  join  our  voices 
in  the  sentiment, — 

0  Poaco  !  thou  source  and  soul  of  social  life, 
Beneath  whose  calm,  inspiring  influence 
Science  liis  views  enlarges,  Art  refines. 
And  swelling  Commerce  opens  all  her  ports, 
Blest  bo  the  man  divine  who  gives  us  theo  ! 

But,  quiet  and  monotonous  as  his  researches  may  seem  to  the  vulgar 
and  unappreciating,  the  labors  of  Dr.  Kane  proved  full  of  interest  to  him 
in  life,  and,  as  connected  with  his  death,  momentous  and  disastrous. 
The  warrior  whose  heart  is  pierced  by  the  glittering  steel  or  whose  head 
is  laid  low  by  the  whizzing  ball  falls  suddenly,  and  in  the  midst  of  an 
excitement  that  renders  death  almost  pangless.  But  toiling  and  labor- 
ing in  the  bleak  and  cheerless  wilderness  of  an  icy  ocean  or  snow- 
covered  land,  where  perpetual  winter  inflicts  perpetual  pain,  and  severe 
hardships  induces  a  slow  but  certain  death,  renders  the  martyr  yet 
more  worthy  of  sympathy  as  well  as  esteem.  To  this  climate  and  these 
causes  Dr.  Kane  owes  his  early  and  melancholy  death.  The  feeble  bodj 
with  which  nature  endowed  him  was  too  frail  a  support  for  the  vigoi 
and  energy  of  his  genius;  and  thus  the  mind  wore  awav  the  body. 


DR.    ELISHA  KENT   KANE. 


317 


om  our  voices 


Genius !  thou  gift  of  Heaven,  thou  light  divine, 
Amid  what  dangers  art  thou  doora'd  to  shine! 
Oft  will  the  body's  weakness  check  thy  force, 
Oft  damp  thy  vigor  and  impede  thy  course, 
.  And  trembling  nerves  compel  thee  to  restrain 

The  noble  efforts  to  contend  with  pain. 

The  pc-ple  of  Louisville  and  New  Albany,  having  paid  all  honor  the 
dearest  friend  of  Dr.  Kane  could  desire  to  his  memory,  and  escorted  his 
remains  thus  far  by  the  committee,  now  hand  over  to  you  the  lifeless 
body  of  a  noble  soul,  knowing  your  desire,  and  that  of  the  people  of 
Cincinnati,  to  discharge  your  melancholy  duty;  and  that  from  your  people 
the  memory  of  the  deceased  will  be  as  fully  and  as  freely  honored  as  wo 
have  honored  it,  in  the  marks  of  respect  we  have  endeavored  to  bestow. 

RE3IARKS  OF  CHARLES  ANDERSON,  ESQ., 

Upon  receiving,  from  the  Louisville  and  New  Albany  Committees,  the 

remains  of  Dr.  Kane. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen  :— In  behalf  of  the  Cincinnati 
Committees,  I  have  the  honor  to  receive  from  your  hands  the  remains 
of  our  deceased  fellow-countryman  and  fellow-man,  to  whose  memory,  sir 
you  have  just  paid  a  tribute  at  once  so  fit  and  so  feeling.  As  you  have 
so  well  said,  successive  crowds,  from  cities,  towns,  and  farms,  in  a  long 
procession  wending  its  solemn  way  across  this  wide  land,  have,  of  their  own 
accord  and  as  individuals,  met  together  to  follow  this  dead  corpse  in  its 
last  voyage  on  the  way  to  its  tomb.  And  now,  to-night,  have  we  also  come 
together,  from  different  and  distant  States  and  cities,  midway  in  a  long 
route  of  its  river-travel,  and  upon  this,  at  once  the  dividing  and  uniting 
line  of  those  several  States, — ^you  to  surrender  and  we  to  receive  this  sad 
treasure  of  our  nation's  regard.  On  such  an  occasion,  is  it  not  meet,  my 
friends,  for  us  to  pause  a  moment  to  inquire,  Why  is  all  this  show  of  cere- 
mony and  this  general  and'spontaneous  expression  of  real  feeling?  This 
man,  whose  lifeless  form  is  the  object  of  such  emotions  and  such  pageantry, 
in  his  life  had  never  distinguished  himself  neither  on  the  bloody  battle- 
field as  a  warrior,  nor  as  a  statesman  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  nor  be- 
fore listening  and  applauding  multitudes  as  an  orator,  nor  yet  as  a 
founder  or  leader  of  any  sect  or  party  in  theology,  politics,  or  society. 
And  heretofore  our  countrymen,  too  much  following  in  the  beaten 
tracks  of  preceding  men  and  nations,  have  always  paid  their  deep 
homage  at  the  graves  and  to  the  memories  of  warriors,  statesmen,  and 
leaders  of  parties, — and,  alas  !  to  them  alone.  But  this  man  was  neither 
of  all  these,  as  the  world  estimates  these  things  :  he  lived  without  infiu- 


318 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


fjyi 

o 

2Si 


a*  ,# 


■% 


cnco  and  diea  without  power.    IIo  was  but  a  simple  and  earnest  devotee 
(in  all  of  his  short  span  of  life)  lo  tlic  just  cause  of  science  and  humanity 
and  lie  died   their  common   martyr.     A  quiet  student  of  the  laws  of 
nature,  ho  had    diligently  and    most   bravely   travelled,  and  explored, 
and  labored,  and  endured,  in  order  to  test  and  to  verify  those  propositions 
which  preceding  searchers  after  truth  had  published,  and  to  discover  and 
for  the  benefit  of  the  race,  promulgc,  some  of  those  principles  which  had 
not  before  been  revealed.    Centle,  self-sacrificing,  and,  like  all  truly  bravo 
men,  tender-hearted,  ho  pitied  the  lost  and  frozen  navigators  of  tho 
Arctic  deserts,  of  land  or  ice  or  ocean,  and,  warmly  sympathizing  with 
the  bereaved  widow  and  their  kindred,  ho  consecrated  his  nund    his 
I.-bors,  his  sufferings,  his  life  itself,-so  able,  so  arduous,  so  painful  and 
protracted,  so  precious  to  family,  to  friends,  to  country,  and  to  his  kind 
—to  their  rescue.     And  such  only  was  Elisha  Kent  Kane.  ' 

And  now,  my  friends,  upon  tho  death  of  this  man  whose  life  was  so 
short  and  so  inconspicuous,  what  do  we  behold  ?  Of  what  scene  indeed 
are  we  tho  actors  or  spectators?  Villages,  towns,  cities,  and  the  inter- 
termediato  rural  homes,  pause  from  their  daily  labors  or  pleasures  and 
pour  a  h.ng,  brond  stream  of  grieved  and  sincere  mourners  behind  his 
coffin.     How  and  why  is  this  ? 

If,  my  friends,  he  had  conquered  great  and  rich  provinces  to  our 
commonwealth,-if  he  had  found  and  poured  into  our  private  or  national 
coffers  the  countless  wealth  of  gold  and  gems  from  Californian  or  Austra- 
l.an  mines,-if  he  had  ..aerificod  himself  an  eager  victim  to  some  idea  o, 
pas,sion  on  which  had  clustered  ar.d   crystallized  a  great   an.l    fanatic 
church  or  party,— if,  pursuing  the  vain  dreams  and  searches  of  the  classic 
ages,  ho  had  discovered  the  fountains  of  perpetual  youth  and  beauty  in 
some  sequestered  ocean-islo  of  censoless  peace  and  joy,— then,  indeed, 
would  our  selfish  gratitude  teach  us  the  secret  of  our  grief.     ]{ut  his 
voyages  and  explorations  have  been,  to  tho  exchequers  of  our  ten.pornl 
and   material  interests  as  to  the  yearning  and  mourning  affoetions  of 
bereaved  kindred,  n  complete  failure.     Jle  brought  back  t..  tho  nation 
only  a  dreary  and  chilling  account  of  a  far-off  country,  over  whoso  land 
and  air  and  waters,  a.uidst  wilderness-plains  of  snow  and  mountain- 
icebergs,  hoar  Winter  reigns  in  absolute  and  eternal  desolation.     And  to 
the  .sad  an.l  wearied  heart  he  brings  neither  Franklin  nor  his  comrades, 
nor  any  trace,  or  cine,  or  tidings,  of  the  lost  and  lovo.l   ones,  save  tho 
frightful  a.ssurancea  of  that   keenest  suffering  from  frost  and  hun-or 
through  which  they  lived,  in  which  they  died.     And  yet-nnd  yet-wo 
mourn,  all  true  American.,  .,d!y  mourn,  thi,^  man.     Nor  is  it  hi^  country. 


DK.    ELISIIA  KENT  KANE,  319 

men  alone  who  shall  grieve  ^hb  death.  ^England,  Kurope,  Chri,len 
do  .,,-ay,  wherever,  „p„a  We  or  continent,  or  afloat  upon  t'h    „    etof' 

..nd  wh.re  ha,,  ,t  not?)  every  „,an  wl,o,o  rnind  has  been  kindled   „  a 
"     of  knowledge,  or  wh„.se  heart  retain,  it,  natural  lovo  toward  hi, 

ULI  'hTliri-:"'  '*'™  '°  """"  "■"'  "«  "-  "™'''  "'"  "—  '» '- 
Now,  therefore,  n,y  friend,,  may  wo  not  in  s^ome  conlidonee  reolv  to 

::wT;:twwim,f '°"""°  °'"  ™-'^^  -^  °"  -«« c"'  -^^ 

..y  What  the,  will)  have  grown  w,»er  and  better  than  other  land,  and 
"   nor    ,,g.»  of    people,   that  a  ,.eh„lar  and  a  philanthropist    ,thu, 
J.'plo  cd       Let  u,,  then,  ,0  uniting  our  ,ad  tone,  in  th..,,e  („„er  e 

over  he  dead  take  eo„,ol„,io„  frou,  ,he,e  scene,,  of  ,olen,„ity,  a,       ej    c" 
to  behevc  ,n  th„  ,n,prove,„e„t  of  our  eountry„,en  and  our f  llow-n* 
In  concl„„on,  gen.lcnen,  allow  „,c  ,0  expre,,  to  you,  a,  the  rep  c,c„ 

..•mvc,„f„ur„.,„.reitie,,our  ration  of  the  ,a,to  an,l  proItTof 

your  proeecd,ng,  ,„  thi,  n,„,t  delicate  alfair,  and  .0  invite  you  I    1, 
cordially,  a,  well  ,n  your   individual  a,  i„  y„nr  omeial  cpaeWe      to 
ccnpany  and  un.te  with  u,  in  those  ceremonial.,  which  it  Lyt'thc 
lot  of  our  city  and  eitizeu,  to  control.  ' 

At  the  eonclu.ion  of  Mr.  A.',  speech,  the  Cineinnali  Comtnitlec  was 
token  down  .„  the  forecastle  of  the  boat,  where  the  ren.aiosof ,  "  kI 

z;,:;:!':"'  ""■""  ""-'='"  -'  •""  -"^  f-  "■« *  »f  t,.o  ?:;:: 

THR  COFFfN. 
The  coffin  which  eonlained  the  oo.hahned  body  of  the  deceased  wa, 
closed  ,„  an  ordinary  bo.,,  „n  the  top  „f  wbLl,  were    insi,  ,ia" 
Jtaonry,  eonsist.ng  of  apron,  glove.,,  and  a  spiig  of  acacia.    Arou      ., 
"hole  was  the  .,,„r.spangled  banner,  whose  a.nple  folds  covered     I  It  « 
was  n,„r,a  of  the  early  and  gifted  dcad.-Mr.  K.  K.  K„n„.  '  " 

J  «  lelcgraph  rea.d,ed  her  wharf  at  this  ei,y  at  her  usual  hour      At 

n  I™i  t"  C'T'l  ''":"''■■■;  """"■  "'""«"■•'■•  ■■'" °  - «■  "" 

tc       n  the  f  ;,         ■""'"""'  •'^""'•"■■'"■h-  'l-F ol   been 

erected    on   the   forecastle,  upon  which    the    coflln    was    placed      The 

.    n,er  then  started  down  ,h„  river  unt e  arrived  a.  Lud   V    Pol, 

Lore  she  landed  and  waited  until  the  u,in„,e..un,  announced  tht    ho 
(ounu.ttee,  were  ready  ,0  receive  the  ren,ai„.      «he  tl  en  Irt       f 
t^o  cty,  and  landed  at  the  foot  of  ,iah  ,St,.et,  where  Ihe  CWittt 


20 


OBSEQUIES   OP 


fidC 


•             ^ 

OJJ 

i^ 

^'       ac 

|««» 

c^ 

O 

iMii 

who  had  the  body  in  charge  delivered  it  to  the  pall-bearers,  some  twentv 
four  in  number. 

THE  PROCESSION. 

The  procession  was  then  formed,  and  moved  in  the  order  as  published, 
through  the  various  streets  named.  The  military  was  well  represented, 
the  Masonic  Fraternity,  the  Pioneer  Association,  and  other  societies,  as 
enup^erated  in  programme.  The  streets  through  which  the  cort^^'o 
passed  were  lined  with  citizens,  both  old  and  young.  Many  of  the 
houses  were  draped  in  mourning,  and  in  several  places  banners  were 
stretched  across  the  streets  and  appropriately  draped. 

Lieutenant  Morton,  the  faithful  friend  of  Dr.  Kane,  who  stood  by  him 
while  living,  and  saw  him  breathe  his  last  sigh  and  closed  his  eyes  in 
death,  walked  immediately  behind  the  hearse  which  bore  all  that  wa? 
earthly  of  his  dear  commander,  until  it  reached  the  Little  Miami  Depot. 

The  remains  will  be  conveyed  to  Columbus  this  afternoon  by  the  cars  of 
the  Little  Miami  llailroad,  starting  at  six  o'clock,  at  which  place  they  will 
lie  in  state  at  the  Cupitol  over  the  Sabbath.  From  thence  they  will  be 
convoyed  to  Wheeling,  and  on  to  Baltimore,  where  they  will  be  received 
by  the  citizens  of  the  Monumental  City  with  fitting  honors. 

In  conclusion,  we  can  but  express  the  gratification  we  feel  in  knowing 
that  our  citizens  have  united  as  one  man  in  showing  respect  to  the 
mortal  remains  of  one  who  belonged  to  no  party,  was  no  warrior  with 
sabre  stained  by  blood,  or  statesman  with  high-sounding  name,  but,  in 
the  language  of  one  whose  lips  are  wont  to  breathe  eloquent  words,  was 
a  voluntary  martyr  to  science  and  to  art. 

AT  THE  DEp6t 

The  procession  reached  the  dcp6t  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  Com- 
pany about  one  o'clock.  The  remains  were  placed  upon  a  bier  in  front  of 
the  dep6t.  where  they  were  honored  by  the  entire  column.  The  pall- 
beart.-s  then  removed  the  body  to  the  car  which  was  to  bear  it  throuf^h 
the  State.  It  is  a  magnificent  express-car,  which  was  elaborately  huiiL' 
inside  and  out  with  mour'iing-restoonery. 


CEREMONIES  AT  COLUMBUS. 

A  few  minutes  before  meridian,  on  Friday,  March  0,  intelligence 
was  received  by  telegraph  from  Cincinnati,  that  the  "omaiiis  of  the  late 
Dr.  Ellsha  Kent  Kaue  would  "ass  throutrli  (^tslunjhus  on  their  "'av  to^ftr-l 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


321 

Philadelphia;  that  they  would  reach  this  city  by  the  11.20  night  train 

trd  oT^rf  *b;/«P-t-e  of  the  10.10  naorning  train  of  the  Cen! 
tral  Ohio  Road  on  Monday. 

Immediately  on  receiot  of  this  intelligence,  action  was  taken  on  the 
part  of  each  branch  of  the  Legislature  responsive  to  the  deep  feeling  of 
a  1  classes  of  the  people,  to  nianifest  their  regard  for  the  character  and 
services  of  the  lamented  dead ;  and  a  joint  committee  of  the  two  Houses 
was  appointed  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  accomplish  that 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  Ohio  was  convened 
m  special  Communication  by  order  of  the  Grand  Master  of  that  Frater- 
nity, and  a  committee  appointed  on  its  part  to  co-operate  with  such 
0  her  committees  as  might  be  appointed  to  make  suitable  arrangements 
tor  the  occasion.  ° 

At  an  early  hour  in  the  evening,  a  meeting  of  citizens  of  Columbus 
was  held  at  the  Neil  House,  and  a  committed  selected  to  act  in  eha^ 
of  the  citizens  of  the  capital  of  Ohio  in  conjunction  with  other  similar 
committees  representing  other  organizations 

was  held  at  the  Neil  House;  when  two  members  from  each  committee 
were  delegated  to  proceed  to  Xenia  on  the  morrow,  and  there  meet  III 

to  Whldin'!!.^'  ''^'  "'''"^'"^  ''  ''  ^^^"^^"«'  '''^  t^^'^ce 

Another  like  committee  was  detailed  to  make  suitable  arrangements 
f  r  the  i-occp  ion  of  the  remains,  for  respectful  care  for  them  during 
their  stay  in  the  city  and  for  appropriate  religious  exercises  on  Sunday' 
The  State  lenc.ble.,  Captain  Kearny,  volunteered  such  services  as 
might  be  required  of  them,-which  were  thankfully  accepted  by  the 
Joint  Committee.  J       ° 

At  Xenia  when  the  train  arrived  from  Cincinnati,  at  about  nine  o'clock 
P.M  the  throng  of  people  was  so  dense  and  so  promiscuous  as  literally 
to  take  possession  of  the  road  and  delay  the  departure  of  the  train 
whereby  Its  arrival  at  Columbus  was  postponed  to  a  few  minutes  pnsj 
twelve  0  clock.  At  London,  and  other  places  along  the  route,  notwith 
tanding  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  and  that  the  train  had  barely  time  to 
1.  It,  the  people  were  out  in  numbers  to  offer  their  spontaneous  tribute 
ot  .sympathy  and  respect. 

At  midnight  the  train  arrived  at  the  Columbus  station-lu.nse,  whore 
t  e  Joint  Committee,  the  State  Fencibles,  and  a  large  concourse  of 


21 


incss  of  the   midnight-hour,  the 


322 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


>••*•* 

l»i™* 


€3C' 
%  ,1-* 

O 


«l 


rolling  of  the  muffled  drum  as  the  remains  were  launched  from  the  car, 
the  tolling  of  the  bells  of  the  city,  the  solemn  strains  of  the  dead-march 
by  the  brass  band,  the  display  of  flags  at  half-mast,  as  seen  by  moon- 
light, the  respectful  silence  of  the  concourse  of  citizens  that  thronged 
the  street, — all  conspired  to  impart  to  the  scene  an  air  of  grandeur  and 
solemnity  seldom  witnessed.  The  solemn  procession,  accompanied  by  a 
civic  and  military  escort,  proceeded  to  the  Senate-Chamber,  where  due 
preparation  had  been  made  for  its  reception ;  and  here  the  remains  were 
consigned  to  the  custody  of  the  Columbus  Committees,  in  the  following 
very  neat  address  from  Charles  Anderson,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Cincinnati : — 

Mb.  Chairman,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — A  few  weeks  ago, 
upon  a  green  and  golden  island  of  the  Caribbean  Sea,  green  with  the 
verdure  of  perpetual  spring,  and  golden  in  the  warm  sunshine  of  a 
tropic  climate,  and  with  the  ever-ripe  and  ever-ripening  fruitage  of  an 
eternal  summer, — surrounded  by  every  circumstance  of  nature  and  of  art 
to  promise  and  to  insure  the  highest  and  purest  state  of  ease  and  health 
and  happiness  which  this  our  human  life  can  know, — there  lay,  languish- 
ing in  feebleness  and  agonizing  in  pain,  on  his  bed  of  mortal  sickness, 
a  youth  and  stranger.  And  over  his  starts  of  keen  spasms  and  the 
fever-dreams  of  his  faint  and  flickering  mind  there  watched  but  three 
sad  sentinels, — his  mother,  a  brother,  and  a  friend,  the  friend  and  com- 
panion of  all  his  labors  and  wanderings,  who  had  loved  him  almost  with 
the  fondness  and  constancy  of  a  mother  and  with  the  manly  attachments 
of  fraternal  feeling. 

This  feeble  and  suffering  invalid  had  begun  life  in  a  country  far 
distant,  under  a  climate  far  diff'ercnt,  and  with  a  natural  constitution 
which  promised  a  wholly  dissimilar  state  of  health.  But  a  spirit  of 
restless  though  persistent  enterprise  for  knowledge  and  usefulness  and 
fame  had  seized  upon  his  earliest  youth,  and  had  drawn  his  swift  and 
willing  feet  from  this  our  new  and  Western  continent  into  the  far  sunrise 
lands  and  islands  of  the  olden  hemisphere,  among  our  very  antipodes.  In 
the  cause  of  knowledge  he  had  searched  the  tiger-peopled  jungles  and 
the  dark  and  dank  mo:  tsses  of  India  and  China,  and  ho  had  hung  sus- 
pended mid-air  in  the  gaping  throat  of  a  mountain-volcano,  over  a  rod-hot 
lake  of  liijuid  and  molten  metals  and  minerals,  which  for  ages  and  cen- 
turies uncounted  and  countless  had  been  seething,  unseen  by  man 
and  uuchallougcd  by  science,  like  a  vast  caldron  of  hell,  over  its  iiifcrnal 
fires. 


DR.   ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


323 


In  the  cause  of  his  country  he  had  as  it  were  "taken  the  win-s  of 
the  morning  and  flown  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea."  Lea^ving 
that  land  of  the  East  and  those  pursuits  of  civic  enterprise,  he  reappeared 
almost  hke  magic,  armed  and  plumed  for  war  in  the  Valley  of  Mexico 
and  upon  our  side  of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  And  there  did  he  signalize  his 
courage  and  address  in  battle  as  much  as  his  most  chivalric  humanity 
and  magnanimity  to  his  foes  and  his  prisoners. 

And,  in  the  cause  of  science  mingled  with  benevolence,  again  and 
again  had  he  torn  himself  from  the  dear  land  of  his  birth  and  from  the 
dear  mother  who  bore  him,  disparting  the  prized  links  which  made  that 
chained  and  charmed  circle  around  the  genial  warmth  of  the  family 
hearth  and  the  purest  piety  of  the  family  altar,  to  explore  among  the 
icebergs  of  the  untracked  Arctics  and  amidst  the  desolations  of  a  still 
bleaker  barbarism. 

From  the  West  to  the  East,  and  from  the  East  to  the  farthest  West 
again,  from  the  Equator  almost  to  the  Northern  Pole,  and  from  the  Pole  to 
the  Equator,  following   and  crossing  all  the  latitudes  and  lon-itudes, 
circumnavigating  and  re-circumnavigating  the  great  globe  itself,  did 
this  pilgrim  of  science,  this  knight-errant  of  benevolence,  thus  devote 
himself  to  the  help  of  his  fellow-man  and  to  the  improvement  of  his 
fellow-men.     And  now  do  we  see  him,  laid  panting  with  his  pain,  and 
languishing  in  his  weakness,  the  tortured  and  sacrificed  victim  of  his 
herculean  task,  the  dying  martyr  to  his  early  passion  and  his  lifelong 
toils.     And  so  lived  and  so  died  Elisha  Kent  Kane !     And  then,— a 
pale,  thin,  cold  corpse,  without  sense,  or  pulse,  or  motion,  with  no  glance 
to  kindle  and  beam  forth  from  the  filmed  eye,  with  no  thought  to  thrill 
like  electricity  through  the  chilled  brain,  with  no  kindly  emotion  to 
warm  and  make  happy  the  stilled  and  silent  heart,— there  in  Cuba  lay 
his  remains,- the  dust  and  ashes  of  that  once  bright  and  busy  life, 
now  burned  out  into  blank  and  endless  darkness. 

And  is  this,  then,  all  there  is  of  life?  Is  the  scene  of  this  drama  now 
closed  forever?  And  can  such  a  life  and  death  teach  us  no  more  than 
this  simple  and  painful  lesson,— that  dust  and  ashes  and  tears  is  the  end 
as  well  of  men  as  of  their  works  ?  Alas  !  alas  !  even  so  !  And  yet,  my 
friends,  it  were  not  well  to  submit  in  dogged  despondency  io  a  faith  so 
cheerless  and  so  cold.  Let  us,  with  our  simple  memories,  retrace  this 
short  story  in  its  mere  detail  of  facts  through  these  last  days  and  weeks 
to  the  present  hour.  Let  us,  indeed,  by  our  reason  and  fancy,  "  follow 
it,  with  modesty  cnnngh,  and  likelihood  to  lead  it,''  through  the  hours, 
days,  weeks,  months,  years,  ages,— ay,  centuries,— to  come.    We  too  may 


324 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


*»m 


^^■^ 

CItfS 

^M        \  <c 

^m 

^^^B 

^^^^^^^^^^^B 

^^^^B ; 

^m 

^B  '             O- 

^^^^^^^H                                   narnt*'^'' 

^^H            ^fdC 

^^H            1.^'. 

^^H                >*^'' 

^^^H            ^ 

^B^- 

^^B         <^ 

^Hf       ^^ 

^^m  ^          ^  . 

^^^B                1"^ 

^^B  :.              Oi. 

^H         O 

^1         ^ 

^^^^^^^^^^K     4:-' 

^^^^^^^^B  ^ 

. 

find  our  explorations  not  in  vain.  Like  the  subject  of  those  meditations, 
wo  too  may  find  our  faith  and  hope  in  God  and  man  revived  and 
renewed  to  a  higher  and  holier  reverence  and  love. 

llccurring  to  that  sad  scene  in  Havana,  we  see  these  few  friends  of 
the    departed  slowly  and    silently  starting  with  his  remains  for  their 
common  country  and  their  family  home.     They  bid  adieu  to  the  kind 
strangers  of  that  foreign  island.     They  cross  the  Gulf  and  land  upon 
our  own    shores,   among  strangers  to  themselves  and  to  the  deceased. 
And  what  now  occurs  ?    The  whole  population  of  New  Orleans, — without 
any  appeals  from  a  party  press,  (for  he  had  been  no  partisan,)  without 
the  incitements  of  a  sectarian  zeal,  (for  he  had  been  of  no  sect,)  without 
any  of  that  wild  and  fervid  enthusiasm  which  a  victorious  war  ever 
excites,  (for  he  had  been  no  conqueror,  crowned  with  that  wreath  of 
green  and  red,  of  bays  and  blood,  which  so  stirs  the  hearts  of  all  men,) 
without  the  warm  impulses  of  mere  simple  patriotism  to  arouse  thcni, 
(for  his  known  labors  had  not  been  those  of  a  mere  patriot,  but  he  had 
lived  and  died  as  a  man  and  for  mankind,) — in  the  absence  of  all  these 
the  usual  causes  of  popular  feeling,  that  entire  people,  each  man,  woman, 
and  child  acting  outwardly  from  the  living  sentiment  within,  all  arose 
as  one  man  to  join  in  the  sad  solemnities  of  that  funeral  train  which 
trails  with  undiminished  woe  across  a  continci^t.     And  so,  my  friends, 
has  it  been  from  that  hour  to  this, — from  New  Orleans  by  all  the  shores 
of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio  Kivers,  and  along  the  lines  of  the  rail- 
road to  Columbus;  and  so  will  it  be  from  Columbus  to  Philadelphia. 
Not  the  small  devoted  band  who  wept  and  prayed  ovor  his  dying  pillow, — 
not  the  absent  family,  perplexed  with  various  hopes  and    fears,  and 
grieved  by  that  sorrow  which  makes  the  sad  heart  sore, — not  the  usual 
circles  of  kindred,  schoolmates,  and    friends, — mourn   alone   for   this 
departed  youth.     But  cities  and  peopled  States — ay,  a  nation's  millions 
of  minds  and  hearts — have  perceived  the  depth  of  their  loss,  and  havo 
felt  a"d  uttered  a  spontaneous  sympathy  with  this  august  and   soloum 
pageant.     Our  nation  has  sufiered  a  national  bereavement.    And,  more, 
the  whole  nation  feels  it  as  such.     Not  only  so :  unless  we  greatly  niis- 
concci-e  the  signs  of  these  times,  civilized  mankind,  without  distinetiu 
of  tongue  or  nation,  will  feel  this  loss  of  a  true  and  real  inan. 

And  now,  my  friends,  may  wo  not  pause  to  ask  ourselves  whether 
this  unforced  and  earnest  regret  of  a  whole  nation,  and  almost  of  the 
whole  race,  for  the  loss  of  a  mere  youth,  whose  fame  was  only  the  fresh 
reward  of  genius  in  science  and  of  enterprise  in  benevolence,  docs  not 
betoken  a  new  and  better  era  in  the  world's  history  '{     All  nations  and 


fS? 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


325 


ese  niecHtationa, 
lan  revived  and 


agos  have  mourned,  with  grand  and  gloomy  pomp,  the  dead  heroes  and 
monarchs  of  mankind.      But  here  is  the  first  instance,  in  all  history 
where  simple  mind  with  simple  goodness,  guided  by  zeal  and  energy  to 
gentle  and  kindly  ends,  have  been  at  once  recognised  as  constitutin..  a 
character  worthy  to  be  honored  by  all  when  living  and  to  be  mourn°ed 
by  all  when  dead.     I  know  not  how  others  may  feel;  but,  as  an  Ameri- 
can,  I  am  proud  of  my  country,  that  she  has  contributed  to  the  world's 
long  hne  of  true  heroes  and  martyrs  such  a  character  as  Kane.     But  I 
am  prouder  far  that  all  her  classes,  whether  of  rich  or  poor,  learned  and 
unlearned,  old  and  young,  of  both  sexes,  have  been  thus  proved  capable 
in  mind  and  heart  truly  to  appreciate  and  warmly  to  feel  a  nation's  loss. 
And,  as  a  man,  I  feel  proudest  of  all  that  this  age  is  worthy  to  have  had 
such  a  real  hero,  and  is  both  able  and  willing  to  recognise  and  acknow- 
ledge  him  whilst  he  was  with  it  and  of  it.     Heretofore,  such  characters 
have  only  been  fully  valued  by  the  generations  coming  after  them. 

As  for  the  memorials  necessary  to  perpetuate  his  fame  and  purity  of 
character,  let  us  not,  my  friends,  concern  ourselves  for  them.  They,  like 
these  passing  ceremonies  in  which  we  now  unite,  may  honor  us.  They 
touch  not  him,  nor  can  affect  his  fame.  His  monument  is  in  the  imperish- 
able  works  of  his  own  mind  and  heart  and  hands.  More  durable  than  mar- 
ble,  more  touching  than  poetry,  sweeter  than  music,  hour  after  hour,  day 
by  day,  for  years  and  decades  and  ages— ay,  centuries  of  ages  to  come 
(unless  men  shall  cease  to  read)— shall  his  glowing  pages  excite  for  him- 
self and  his  theme  the  enthusiastic  admiration  and  love  of  mankind. 
Let  these,  then,  the  living,  the  undying  thoughts  of  his  various  and 
mighty  niind,  let  the  impulses  of  his  gentle  and  generous  heart,  which 
BO  inspired  him  to  great  activities,  to  patient  endurances,  and  to  bravest 
deeds,— ie  these  records  his  monument.  And  if  an  earthly  and  material 
Jiiemento  more  than  this  love  and  fame  impressed  upon  the  universal 
mind  and  heart  be  necessary  to  perpetuate,  not  his  glory,  but  the  world's 
fitting  remembrance  of  him,  then  let  nature,  or  something  most  like 
nature,— let  something  the  most  closely  associated  with  his  works  and  life 
and  death,— bespeak  at  once  the  world's  truest  honor  and  purest  taste. 

And  there,  upon  the  crystalline  shores  of  that  Polar  sea,  that  green 
an4  liquid  solitude,  broad  as  the  Atlantic  and  lonely  as  Sahara,— shut 
in,  through  all  the  earth's  ages,  from  the  uses  or  the  visits  of  man,  by 
wide  wastes  of  snow  and  vast  mountains  of  solid  and  unmelting  ice,  re- 
posing still,  as  it  has  ever  reposed,  in  the  calmness  of  its  own  cold,  serene, 
primeval  purity  and  peace,  with  its  smooth  bosom  never  furrowed  by  any 
keel,  never  shadowed  by  any  sail,  and  (oh,  sad  and  sweet  exception  to 


326 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


ll- 


pv. 


O 


the  cruel  annals  of  our  race !)  never  stained  by  human  blood, — there,  at 
the  margin  of  that  clear  mirror  of  the  circumpolar  sky,  whose  blazing 
constellations,  those  stars  that  never  set,  circling  in  their  smooth  and 
constant  orbits  forever  around  and  above  it  and  its  crystal  horizon, 
seem  fondly  to  behold  themselves,  the  brightest  glory  of  all  the  skies, 
truly  reflected  in  it,  the  purest  spot  of  all  the  earth, — there,  on  such  a 
shore,  by  such  a  sea,  under  such  a  sky,  henceforth  and  forever  so  asso- 
ciated in  the  whole  human  mind  with  his  name, — there,  on  some  brave 
precipice,  let  there  stand 

"  A  pyramid  of  lasting  ice, 
Whose  polish'd  sides,  ere  day  has  yet  begun, 
Shall  catch  the  _^r8«  glow  of  the  unrisen  sun. 
The  laai  when  it  shall  sink,  and  through  the  night 
The  charioteers  of  Arctos  wheel  ever  round 
Its  glittering  point." 

And — though  few  or  none  of  all  the  myriads  of  men  living  and  to  livo 
might  ever  have  the  courage  to  look  up  at  that  sapphire  wedge  of  ever- 
during  ice  keenly  piercing  the  calm  sky  of  a  semi-annual  day,  or  glister- 
ing now  in  the  sheen  of  the  circumpolar  starlight,  and  anon  coruscated 
with  the  more-than-rainbow  beauties  and  glories  of  the  Aurora-etful- 
gences — to  me  it  would  seem  a  most  apt  and  tender  fancy,  that,  though 
unseen,  mankind  should  ever 

"/"eeUhatitisthero." 

With  this  brief  and  imperfect  expression  of  those  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings which  have  been  suggested  and  excited  by  these  most  touching  ami 
appropriate  ceremonies,  at  deep  midnight,  and  in  this  grand  and  now 
most  solemn  temple  of  our  State's  majesty,  permit  me,  sir,  as  the  organ 
of  the  Committees  from  Cincinnati,  now  and  here  to  surrender  to  your 
watchful  caro  and  to  your  heartfelt  reverence  these,  the  earthly  remains 
of  Elisha  Kent  Kane. 

William  Dennison,  Esq.  responded,  on  behalf  of  the  Columbus  Com- 
mittee, in  a  very  appropriate  address. 

A  detachment  of  the  State  Fencibles  was  then  detailed  by  Lieutenant 
Jones,  as  a  guard  of  honor,  which  remained  on  duty  while  the  remains 
were  in  the  Senate-Chamber,  except  while  relieved  by  a  like  guard  de- 
tailed for  the  purpose  from  members  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  The 
remains  lay  in  state  in  the  Senate-Chamber  from  one  A.M.  on  Sunday  until 
nine  a.m.  on  Mondav. 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT  KANE. 


327 


By  ten  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  the  citizens  began  to  wend  their 
way  to  the  Senate-Chamber,  which  had  been  judiciously  arranged  by 
Mr.  Ernshaw,  the  draughtsman,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  greatest 
practicable  number  of  persons.  By  eleven  o'clock,  the  spacious  hall  was 
densely  packed,  when  Colonel  Kane,  Kobert  P.  Kane,  Esq.,  Dr.  John  K. 
Kane,  Jr.,  brothers  of  the  deceased,  and  Lieutenant  William  Morton,  his 
faithful  companion  in  his  perilous  voyages,  entered,  and  were  conducted 
to  seats  reserved  for  them. 

The  religious  exercises  at  the  Capitol  consisted  of— 1st,  Prayer,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Steele,  of  the  First  Congregational  Church.  2d.  Music, 
by  the  choir  of  that  church,  executed  with  great  judgment  and  skill. 
3d.  Discourse,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hoge,  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  4th.  Anthem,  by  the  choir.  5th.  Collects  and  Benediction, 
by  Rev.  Mr.  La  Tourrette,  of  St.  Paul's  (Episcopal)  Church. 

Notice  was  given  that  the  Senate-Chamber  would  be  open  from  two 
to  five  o'clock,  to  afford  the  citizens  opportunity  to  pay  their  mournful 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  ashes  of  the  dead ;  and  thousands  of  all  classes 
and  conditions  gladly  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity,— when  the 
doors  were  closed,  and  the  silence  of  the  chamber  was  broken  only  by 
the  tread  of  the  guard  of  honor  left  on  duty. 


!olumbus  Com- 


PRAYER 

Offered  hy  Rev.  J.  M.  Steele,  on  the  occasion  of  the  Funeral  Solem- 
nities, u-hile  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  lay  in  state  in  the  Senate- 
Chamber,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

0  God !  thou  art  not  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living.  Thou 
art  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob.  We  do  not  all  die : 
the  body  perishes,  but  the  soul  lives.  A  day  is  coming  when  the  earth 
and  the  sea,  the  rocks  and  the  ice,  will  give  up  their  dead.  The  scene 
before  us  brings  to  our  remembrance  the  promise  of  the  resurrection. 
We  have  come  hither  to  pay  our  last  respects  to  the  earthly  remains  of 
one  of  whom  when  living  we  had  all  heard,  and  whom  we  had  learned 
to  love  and  revere.  Thy  thoughts  are  not  our  thoughts,  nor  are  thy  ways 
our  ways,  Lord  God  Almighty :  thou  didst  hold  him  in  thy  hand  when 
wind  and  waters  and  all  nature  were  against  him.  Thou  didst  bear  him 
through  storm,  and  cold,  and  darkness,  and  famine,  and  fear,  and  didst 
sot  him  down  in  safety  upon  the  deck  of  the  Release.  And,  when  the 
cheers  of  his  countrymen  welcomed  him  back  to  the  social  world  of  love 
which  they  represented,  hope  elevated  and  joy  brightened  his  crest. 


kl 


•SSL 


O 


328 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


#' 


Long  had  he  trod  the  ice-foot  in  safety.  Through  two  Arctic  winters 
God  had  kept  hiin.  And  in  the  third,  under  the  mild  light  of  a  genial 
clime,  before  the  returning  sun  had  gild'^d  the  topmast  of  the  Advance 
in  her  ice-bound  home,  the  floes  yielded  beneath  his  feet  and  he  passed 
into  the  eternal  sea. 

His  sun  went  down  at  noon.  But  age  is  not  measured  by  the  number  of 
years  :  wisdom  is  the  gra;  hair  unto  a  man,  and  an  unspotted  life  is  old  age. 
Bear  with  us,  0  Lord ,  if  in  our  addresses  to  thee  we  make  mention 
of  the  virtues  of  him  whose  loss  we  deplore.  For  he  acknowledged  God  as 
the  author  of  his  powers,  and  it  was  a  part  of  his  wisdom  to  know  whose 
gift  he  was.  Much  had  he  seen,  and  known,  and  done.  His  foot  had 
touched  the  soil  of  every  continent  on  the  globe,  and  his  temples  had 
been  laved  in  the  waters  of  every  sea.  His  life  was  a  voyage  of  disco- 
very. Already  the  benefit  of  his  labors  is  felt,  more  or  less,  in  every 
country.  His  plans  were  original,  and  as  full  of  humanity  as  they  were 
of  genius.  He  had  been  endowed  with  superior  powers  both  of  mind 
and  body,  and  where  others  perished  he  survived.  But  the  silver  cord 
is  loosed  at  last,  the  golden  bowl  is  broken,  the  pitcher  is  broken  at 
the  fountain,  and  the  wheel  is  broken  at  the  cistern.  The  dust  will 
return  to  the  earth  as  it  was;  but  tt'e  spirit  has  returned  unto  God  who 
s^ave  it.  The  shades  of  a  more-than- Arctic  night  have  settled  jn  his 
dust, — a  night  that  knows  no  day ;  but  the  spiril  is  bathing  in  the  mellow 
light  of  day, — a  day  that  knows  no  night. 

The  Advance  is  in  the  ice,  the  Eric  is  in  ashes,  the  Hope  is  on  a  far- 
distant  shore,  the  Faith — the  "precious  relic" — is  in  possession  of  his 
country,  and  Kane  is  in  heaven.  He  will  need  the  craft  no  n.ore,  for 
now  he  walks  with  the  Evangelists  upon  the  crystal  and  stable  sea. 

The  accurate  scholar,  the  generous  commander,  the  thoughtful  Chris- 
tian, has  passed  from  our  sight  ind  beyond  all  human  rescue.  The 
faithful  c'lbles  which  h(;ld  him  through  so  many  storms  have  yielded  their 
stratjds  at  last.  He  has  seen  and  crossed  the  "open  sea,"  and  already 
there  have  burst  upon  his  view  the  splendors  of  the  city  of  God.  And 
we  trust  he  has  found  those  for  whom  he  went  out  to  look,  safely  moored 
by  those  happy  shores  where  the  sun  never  sets  and  the  waters  never 
freeze. 

And  now,  0  righteous  Lord,  as  we  remember  the  mourners,  we  must 
pray  for  the  world.  His  relatives  are  the  children  of  men.  Wo  seem 
to  see  him  standing  upon  the  slope  of  the  glacier  in  the  Arctic  snnmier, 
pointing  to  the  nations  and  saying,  "  Behold  my  mother  and  my  brethren." 
But  his  mother  has  closed  his  eyes  in  their  last  sleep,  and  the  mourners 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


329 


go  about  the  streets  of  every  city  in  the  civilized  world,  aonius  will 
preside  at  his  obsequies,  and  Learning  will  weep  at  his  grave.  Oh,  let 
us  trus^  that  the  stroke  of  death  which  has  borne  him  from  us  Las  not 
left  science  and  the  dignified  charities  of  human  nature,  as  it  were, 
orphans  upon  the  world. 

To-day,  for  a  few  minutes,  tne  rays  of  the  sun  will  fail  upon  the  deck 
of  the  Advance;  but  her  master  has  gone  to  a  land  where  they  have  no 
need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  it,  for  the  glury  of  God 
doth  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof. 

And  now,  O  God,  preside  in  these  funeral  solemnities.  Speak  through 
him  who  will  address  us.  And  prepare  us  all  for  a  meeting  with  thol- 
who  have  gone  before  us,  and  with  one  another,  in  that  future  world  of 
which  we  read  in  thy  word.  For  it  is  a  bright  and  happy  country,  "and 
the  nations  of  them  which  are  saved  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  it." 
^  Most  merciful  Father,  hear  our  prayer,  through  the  me^rits  and  media- 
tion  of  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  I^ord.     Amen. 

THE  SUBSTANCE  OF  A  DISCOURSE 

ON    THE 

DEATH  OF  E.  K.  KANE, 

Delivered  in  the  Senate-Chamber,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  March  8, 1857. 
BY  REV.  JAJIKS  IIOOE,  D.D. 

PASTOR  OP  THE  FIRST  I'RESDVTEnUN  CHURCH,  COLUMDUS. 


"  So  teach  n,  to  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  to  wisdom." 

. I'SALM  XC.    12. 

Wc  are  assembled  to  remember  the  life  and  lament  the  death  of  one 
who  has  attained  high  disiinction  among  his  countrymen.  His  name 
and  actions  and  worth  are  known,  also,  far  beyond  the  limits  of  this 
nation,-even  throughout  the  civilized  world.  It  is  true  that  the  honors 
we  give  to  his  memory  cannot  aflfect  him ;  but  it  will  be  profitable  to  us 
-to  the  hving-to  recall  to  memory  his  life,  and  record  our  impressions 
of  his  worth,  under  the  influence  of  that  truth  of  God  which  teaches  us, 
and  impresses  us  with  a  just  view  of  the  brevity  and  uncertainty  of  life, 
and  directs  our  attention  to  a  right  improvement  of  the  time  which  ia 
allowed  to  us  in  the  present  state  of  existence. 

Such  instructiou  is  giveu  in  the  text  in  a  few  plain  words;  and  it  is 


330 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


fOJr 

o 


ia| 


the  more  forcible  that  it  is  expressed  in  the  form  of  a  prayer  to  God, 
who  has  endowed  us  with  life  and  all  its  advantages,  for  our  welfare  now, 
and  for  our  safety  and  happiness  in  another  and  future  world.  On  this 
subject  we  ought  to  think,  to  reason,  to  feel,  to  act,  as  those  who  must  be 
judged  by  Him  who  now  sustains  us  in  life  and  will  ere  long  call  us  to 
a  solemn  account. 

The  brevity  of  life  is  universally  acknowledged;  and  yet  we  are  apt 
to  feel  and  act  as  if  it  were  without  an  end.  In  one  hour  we  confess 
and  complain  that  our  days  are  few  and  evil,  and  in  the  very  next  hour 
we  forget  our  confession  and  live  as  if  we  had  no  apprehension  of  death. 
This  is  not  wise.  It  is  not  even  consistent  with  worldly  prudence.  In 
all  our  views  and  feelings,  in  all  our  enterprises,  we  ought  to  remember 
that  our  time  is  short. 

Our  days  are  numbered  and  appointed  to  us.  And  what  is  their  num- 
ber  ?  "  Very  many,"  answers  the  busy  worldling  who  is  immersed  in  the 
pursuits  and  cares  of  life,  the  careless  spendthrift  whose  pleasures  now 
engross  him,  and  hopes  of  other  days  of  gratification  lie  before  him  in  pros- 
pect. "Almost  innumerable,"  cries  gay,  sanguine,  thoughtless  Youth. 
*'Why  should  I  now  even  think  their  number  will  ever  run  out  ?"  And  hoary 
Age,  too,  can  dream  of  days,  and  months,  and  years  before  him,  which  may 
yet  serve  him  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  earth  or  heaven,  or  both.  But 
what  is  the  true  account  given  by  experience  and  confirmed  and  applied 
by  Holy  Scripture  ?  "  The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten ; 
and  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be  fourscore  years,  yet  is  their  strength 
labor  and  sorrow."  And  now,  what  are  these  few  years  in  comparison 
with  the  thousand  years  of  those  who  lived  before  the  flood, — or  with 
the  long  lapse  of  time  from  the  creation  to  the  final  judgment, — or  with 
the  far  longer  duration  of  eternity  ?  A  span ;  a  handbreadth ;  a  passing 
present  hour. 

The  word  of  God  speaks  in  this  wise  respecting  our  days  on  earth : — 
"For  what  is  your  life  ?  It  is  even  a  vapor,  which  appeareth  for  a  little 
time  and  then  vanisheth  away."  "  In  the  morning  it  flourisheth  and 
groweth  up;  in  the  evening  it  is  cut  down  and  withereth."  "  The  days 
of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  have  been  few  and  evil,"  said  aged  Jacob 
in  answer  to  the  question  "  How  old  art  thou  ?"  When  we  look  back, 
the  time  which  is  past  seems  very  short ;  but  when  we  look  forward,  the 
coming  time  promises  to  be  long.  The  first  view  is  truth,  the  latter  is 
delusion.  We  saw  the  beginning  of  the  past,  but  we  cannot  see  the  end 
of  the  future, — if  a  future  in  this  life  remains  to  us.  As  our  liff  is  short, 
so  is  its  movement  swift, — rp.pid  as  the  motion  of  the  earth  in  its  orbit. 


DR.    ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


331 


How  careful,  then,  should  we  bo  to  number  correctly  the  few  rapid  days 
of  our  mortal  life  ! 

Uncertainty  also  enters  into  the  correct  estimate  of  human  life.  That 
the  hour  of  our  death  will  come,  wo  know  with  absolute  certainty;  and 
we  are  equally  sure  that  it  will  soon  arrive.     We  may  live  the  threescore 
years  and  ten  allotted  to  man  as  the  ordinary  length  of  old  age;  but  how 
few  continue  so  long !     Perhaps  one  of  a  hundred.     Often  a  day,  a 
month,  a  year,  or  a  score  of  years,  is  all  that  is  given  us  as  the  number 
of  our  days.     Death  comes,  our  life  is  out  off,  and  we  are  gone,  and  shall 
be  here  no  more  forever.     In  the  natural  world,  very  often  there  comes  a 
frost,  a  blast,— and  the  bud  is  blighted,  the  flower  is  withered,  the  unripe 
fruit  is  cast  worthless  on  the  ground.     The  sun  rises  and  sets  regularly 
at  his  appointed  times;  but  the  sun  of  our  short  life  may  go  down  at 
noon,  or  in  the  morning,  and  so  may  not  reach  the  evening  of  repose 
and  preparation  for  an  eternal  day  on  which  multitudes  found  their  reso- 
lutions and  hopes  of  happiness  in  time  and  eternity.     All  we  v->f.,n  say 
with  confidence  is,  that  the  lesson  which  is  taught  by  the  history  of  the 
world  is  true :  we  may  live  a  day,  a  year,  or  a  series  of  years,  or  we  may 
not.     Death  will  come ;  and  he  snatches  away  budding  infancy,  buoyant 
youth,  vigorous  manhood,  as  well  as  decrepit  age ;  and  at  times  and  dates 
unforeseen  he  bears  away  all  as  his  lawful  prey.      Truly,  our  pilgrimage 
here  is  a  journey  along  a  way  beset  with  dangers,  in  a  world  which  is°a 
land  of  yawning  graves,— the  one  great  city  of  the  dead.    We  may  plan 
and  labor  for  a  year,  an  age  yet  future ;  we  may  calculate  for  other 
results  than  we  have  secured  by  our  efforts;  wo  may  hope  for  other  hap- 
piness  than  wo  have  yet  enjoyed  :  but  death,  with  ruthless  stroke,  buries 
all  in  the  dust.     The  very  care  we  take,  the  precautions  we  adopt,  the 
means  we  employ,  that  we  may  live  long  on  the  earth,  may  be  the  occa- 
sion or  the  cause  of  hastening  us  to  the  end  of  our  portion  of  time  and 
launching  us  on  the  boundless  ocean  of  eternity.     Uncertain,  indeed, 
to  us,  is  the  tenure  by  which  we  hold  our  life.    It  is  perfectly  known  to 
God,  fixed  and  determined  in  his  foreknowledge  and  purpose,  but  hidden 
from  us  and  concealed  in  the  impenetrable  darkness  of  the  future.  No  eye 
of  mortal  can  see  in  that  darkness,  no  wisdom  search  out  the  inscrutable 
future.  "  Go  to,  now,  ye  that  say,  To-day  orto-morrow  we  will  go  into  such  a 
city,  and  continue  there  a  year,  and  buy  and  sell,  and  get  gain  :  whereas  ye 
know  not  what  shall  be  on  the  morrow."     "  Ye  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth."    «  Watch,  therefore,  for  ye  know  not  what  hour  your  Lord 
doth  come."     ''Be  ye  ready,  also,  for  your  Lord  may  come  at  an  hour 
when  you  look  not  for  him."     Life  is  uneertaiu ;  death  is  certain.    "  It 


832 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


ad 


O 


Hi 


is  appointed  to  all  men  once  to  die,  and  after  this  the  judfrnient." 
Dream  not  that  frieud.s  or  physicians,  strength,  or  wisdom,  or  goodness, 
can  delay  your  departure  hence. 

Life,  short  and  uncertain  as  it  is,  most  manifestly  is  nevertheless  long 
enough  for  the  great  end  for  which  it  is  given,  on  the  condition  that  wo 
so  number  our  days  and  consider  our  end  as  to  improve  the  present 
time  wisely  and  faithfully.  On  this  account,  the  end  for  which  life  is 
given,  it  is  infinitely  important  to  every  one  of  us.  It  is  of  incalculable 
value  with  reference  to  ourselves  and  to  others,  and  to  the  purposes  of 
liod.  To  ourselves,  as  we  are  rational  beings,  moral  agents,  susceptible 
of  constant  improvement  and  real  enjoyment,  even  in  our  present  mortal 
condition,  being  capable  of  continued  existence,  of  intellectual  and 
moral  cultivation,  of  vigorous  and  wisely -directed  action,  it  is  desirable 
to  live  as  long  as  Heaven  shall  please  to  continue  us  in  this  condition. 
We  know,  wo  feel,  that  we  differ  in  this  respect  from  the  mere  animal, 
and  we  are  sensible  that  there  is  much  good  in  our  pre.'^ent  state, 
nltlumgh  we  are  exposed  to  dangers  and  adversities  and  must  bear 
afflictions.  And,  in  taking  aright  the  number  of  our  days,  wo  should 
inrpiire  diligently  what  we  ought  to  be  and  do  in  this  life  for  our  own 
proper  advantage.  If  we  improve  our  time,  our  powers,  our  opportuni- 
ties, as  we  may  and  ought  to  improve  them,  if  we  choose  and  pur.>iuo 
the  true,  the  pure,  the  good,  in  respect  of  principle  and  conduct,  and  if 
wo  reject  and  avoid  the  false  ami  the  evil,  it  will  be  our  real  advantage. 
Such  attainment  will  be  to  us  far  better  than  wealth  and  pleasure. 

IJut  especially  is  life,  whether  long  or  short,  of  inlinito  worth  to  every 
one,  as  it  has  a  delinite,  decisive,  certain  reference  to  a  future  life.  Wo 
are  immortal  beings,  destined  to  a  future  and  endless  existence  beyond 
this  life,  beyond  death,  beyond  time.  As  certainly  as  we  die,  we  shall 
live  again.  And  we  arc  placed  and  continued  in  this  world  as  the  intro- 
ductory stage  of  our  existence.  The  character  which  we  form  here  will 
determine  our  character  hereafter,  as  certainly  as  the  nature  of  the 
infant  man  sli.dl  still  be  the  nature  of  the  mature  man.  Our  conduct, 
too,  in  this  life,  will  be  the  .subjt(;t  of  our  future  and  final  account  and 
the  ground  >f  our  endless  recompense.  A  period  of  probation,  however 
short,  may  properly  be  the  basis  of  retribution.  And  probation  under 
grace  may  be  as  justly  and  certainly  decisive  as  probation  under  law.  Now 
the  gospel  is  preached  to  us  ;  we  are  called  t(»  repentance  toward  (lod 
and  faith  toward  our  liord  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  nay  be  .saved,— .saved 
from  our  tins  and  delivered  from  the  wrath  of  Ciod,  and  bo  made  now 
creatures  and  heirs  of  eternal  life.     Our  eternal  hapj)ine.s.s  depends  on 


DU.   ELISllA    KENT    KANE. 


333 


thus  appljino.  our  lioarts  to  wi,s.l.,in.  Tlion;  i,s  no  otlior  salvation,  no 
otluM-  way  of  eternal  lifo,  no  otiier  .Savior,  no  other  method  of  receiving 
salvation.  If  we  are  thu.s  save.l,  all  is  well;  if  we  ne-lect  thi.s  salvation, 
all  IS  lost.  And  it  is  now,  while  life  eontinues,— liere,  in  this  worM,  tho 
phice  of  our  ^n-aoious  prohation,— that  we  may  be  saved,  prepared  to 
die  and  to  enter  into  that  rest  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God. 
"Ikdiold,  n,nv  in  the  accepted  time;  now  is  tho  day  of  salvation." 
"Hear,  and  your  souls  shall  live." 

J)urin-  our  days  on  earth  we  may  do  much  for  tlic  welfare  of  others. 
God   has  made  i.s  social  beings.     This  is  seen  in  our  v.  -v  nature  as 
moral  a-enfs,  and  in  our  whole  condition  as  intelligent,  active  beings. 
The  social  principle  is  universal,  and  strong,  and  practical,  as  a  part  of 
our  moral  nature ;  and  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  imjilantcd  in  us  aro 
manifest  in  the  numerous  and  various  relations  among  men.     These  are 
domestic,  and  civil,  and  religious.     On  this  principle  it  is  that  men 
universally  are  the  subjects  of  re(-ii)rocal  influence  for  go.  i  or  for  evil. 
As  no  man  is  made  for  himself  alone,  but  all,  in  some  important  sense,' 
for  others  also,  as  for  themselves,  there  are  mutual  duties,  which  arc 
obligatory,  and  by  tho  perfornianeo  of  which  we  may  be  useful  to  each 
other;  or,  if  we  neglect  those  duties  which  are  founded  on  these  relations, 
or  act  contrary  to  them,  we  infli.'t  injury  and   are  worthy  of  blame! 
How  careful,  then,  should  tho  h.-ads  and  members  of  the  family  be  in 
doing  good  and  not  evil  to  each  other  in  the  family  according  to  exist- 
ing relations  !      And  with  what  rectitude  and  truth  and  benevolence 
should  the    members  of  society  act    toward   one   another   for   mutual 
advantage!     J-^spccially  as  we  have  mutual  influence,  and  live  together, 
in  this  our  short  uncertain  day,  with  reference  to  a  future,  eternal  con- 
dition, as  has  been  already  said,  wo  ought  to  promote  the  spiritual  and 
eternal  welfare  of  others,  by  all  projier  practicable  means,  even  as  our 
own.     «  Thou  Shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself."     "  Do  go  jd  to  all 
men  as  yi.u  have  opportunity,  and  especially  to  them  who  aro  of  the 
household  of  faith."     Kemcmber,  the  time  is  short,  tho  night  is  at  hand 
wherein  no  man  can  work.     And  who  can  tell  in  how  great  a  degree  the 
present  and  future  welfare  of  children  may  be  affected  by  the  example, 
the  whole  conduct,  of  parents /-to  what  extent  tho  charact(!r  and  stuto 
of  neighbor  by  his  neighbor,  of  inferiors  by  superiors,  of  tho  higher  also 
by  the  lower,  and  of  future  generations    by  (he   jiresent   generation? 
Combining  such  views  of  our  true  welfare   and  our  usefulness  to  our 
fellow-men,  wo  Icaru  tho  value  of  lifo,  shoit  and  uncertain  as  it  is,  and 


334 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


O 

"Zk. 


we  become  sensible  of  the  necessity  of  "  applying  our  hearts  diligently 
to  wisdom, — that  wisdom  which  is  profitable  to  direct." 

This  wisdom  is  taught  by  divinely-revealed  truth,  and  is  to  be  sought 
from  Him  who  is  the  Father  of  lights.  It  is  designed  and  suited  to 
secure  our  fulfilment  of  the  wise  and  benevolent  and  holy  purposes  of 
Heaven  concerning  our  present  and  future  condition.  These  designs  of 
God  shall  all  be  accomplished.  "  God's  counsel  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do 
all  his  pleasure."  But  it  is  by  means  that  he  ordinarily  effects  his  will; 
and  these  means  are,  in  respect  of  our  life  and  destiny,  our  own  purposes 
and  works.  We  are  instruments  in  respect  of  our  dependence  and  sub- 
jection to  God,  and  we  are  agents  in  respect  of  liberty  and  power  o 
choice  and  action.  Fatal  necessity,  as  well  as  blind  chance,  is  excluded 
from  the  administration  of  the  divine  government :  all  is  fixed  and 
regular,  yet  all  is  just,  benevolent,  and  wise.  Of  this  government  we 
are  the  rational  subjects  ;  under  it  we  have  the  allotment  of  our  days, 
and  find  our  duty  and  happiness  in  applying  our  hearts  to  true  wisdom, 
under  the  direction  of  I'rovidence,  the  instruction  of  truth,  and  the  help 
aad  guidance  of  grace.  Then  let  us  live  that  we  may  be  ready  to  die, 
as  those  who  have  wisely  lived,  hoping  for  pardon  and  acceptance  and 
eternal  life  through  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ.  And  let  us 
humbly  and  earnestly  beseech  God  to  enable  us  by  his  grace  so  to  number 
our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  to  wisdom. 

Under  the  influence  of  such  sentiments  respecting  life  and  its  duties 
and  advantages  and  responsibilities,  let  us  pause  at  the  side  of  the  grave, 
and  remember  the  life,  while  we  lament  the  death,  of  Elislia  Kent  Kane, 
whose  mortal  remains  now  lie  before  us.  "Why  docs  a  nation  mourn  his 
removal  ? — nay,  why  do  the  enlightened,  the  philanthropic,  the  scientific, 
throughout  the  civilized  world,  lament  the  loss?  His  character,  his 
aims,  his  deeds,  although  he  marched  not  at  the  head  of  armies  nor  sat 
on  a  throne,  answer  the  inquiry. 

He  was  born  in  rhiladolphia,  February  IJ,  18132,  and  consequently  at 
his  death  in  Cuba,  February,  1X57,  was  a  few  days  over  the  ago  of 
thirty-five  years.  I  will  not  attempt  a  narrative  of  Lis  life  (this  must 
be  left  to  better-qualified  friends)  further  than  to  say  that,  having  been 
liberally  educated,  and  having  studied  medicine,  ho  entered  the  United 
States  service  as  surgeon  in  the  navy,  and  in  this  capacity  was  attached 
to  the  first  niissiun  from  our  Government  to  China.  Then  he  visited  also 
the  islands  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  some  portions  of  the  continent  of 
Asia, — likewise  also  portions  of  Africa  and  Europe.  His  actions  and 
adventures  in  his  cstensivo  travels  I  ueod  not  recite.     On  his  return, 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


335 


avoiding  ease  and  indulgence  at  home,  he  entered  our  squadron  on  the 
African  coast,  and  visited  the  shive-stations,  and  was  about  to  make  a 
journey  of  exploration  in  the  interior  of  Africa,  but  was  hindered  by 
severe  disease.  Afterward  he  was  connected  with  the  coast-survey,  and 
engaged  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  Mexico  during  the  war,  and 
after  its  close  returned  with  a  high  character  for  enterprise  and  humanity 
and  science. 

At  this  time  the  first  Grinnell  Expedition  was  in  preparation  ;  and  ho 
engaged  with  characteristic  ardor  and  energy  in  the  enterprise  desi-ned 
generally  for  Northern  exploration  and  particularly  for  discovering"  the 
fate  of  Sir  John  Franklin.  In  the  second  Grinnell  Expedition  for  the 
same  purposes,  the  command  was  assigned  to  him,  and  after  an  absence 
of  two  years  he  returned,  and  gave  to  tlie  public  a  full  narrative  of  all  he 
had  endured  and  accomplished.  The  hardships  and  exposure  he  suffered 
during  this  voyage  brought  on  him  the  disease  which  laid  him  on  the 
bed  of  death  in  the  midst  of  his  days.  Ilis  character  and  his  deeds  will 
perpetuate  his  memory. 

He  was  a  man  of  genius.  1  osscssing  in  a  high  degree  the  powers  of 
conception,  comparison,  and  scientific  analysis,  with  strong  imagination 
and  poetic  fancy,  he  was  fitted  by  nature  for  those  enterprises  which 
demand  a  master-mind.  In  every  walk  of  life  he  must  have  been  con- 
spicuous,  and  especially  as  he  had  the  power  of  concentrating  his 
faculties  on  any  object  to  which  he  was  devoted.  Great  enen-y  unrest- 
ing activity,  strenuous  effort,  always  directed  by  good  sense  and  sound 
judgment,  were  manifest  in  every  part  of  his  life  from  his  earliest 
years.  And  he  was  also  persevering  and  patient  and  hopeful  in  the 
greatest  dilHcultics  and  discouragements. 

Courage  of  the  highest  kind  was  a  prominent  trait  of  his  cliaracter — 
physical  courage  which  no  danger  could  appall,-moral  co«rai,'o,  not  often 
lu  any  high  degree  united  with  physical,  which  no  enemies  could  daunt  - 
courage  such  as  fits  a  man  for  great  deeds  at  the  head  of  armies,  on  the 
throne  of  power,  and  equally  in  the  labors  and  difficulties  and  dangers 
of  discovery  by  land  or  sea.  And,  besides,  when  exposed  to  trials  and 
suflerings  in  which  energy  and  courage  avail  little,  ho  ha.l  fortitude  to 
bear  to  the  utmost  limit  of  endurance.  Thus  endowed  with  those  quali- 
ties winch  constitute  the  basis  of  greatness,  he  attracted  the  notice  and 
secured  the  confidence  of  those  who  knew  him.  Ho  was  not,  however, 
stern  and  rigorous.     Kindness  entered  into  the  constitution  of  his  cha- 

racter  c<iually  with  cncrjry  und    bruvi-rv.     (Jnn,>r,.„.    l,. ,.., -_^-_ 

Monate,  ho  who  never  was   overcome  by  dangers  and  difficulties  and 


336 


OBSEQUIES   OP 


O 


sufferings  whicli  were  his  own  was  ready  to  sink  at  the  view  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  others  who  wera  under  his  care  :  he  could  nvon  conquer  enemies 
who  were  arrayed  in  battle  against  him,  and  then  at  the  risk  of  liis  life  pro- 
tect them,  when  prisoners,  from  the  rage  of  his  own  associates  in  arms. 

To  complete  his  character,  we  may  add — and  we  may  be  highly  gratified 
to  be  able  to  add — that  all  his  high  characteristics  were  elevated  and 
governed  by  sound  and  thorough  moral  principle,  and  sanctified  by  the 
influences  of  the  religion  of  the  IJiblc,  which  reveals  and  offers  to  us 
Jesus  the  Christ  of  God  as  in  all  things  a  Savior.  And  nothing  can 
more  fully  exhibit  his  true  character  than  the  three  rules  which  he 
established  when  he  began  his  second  expedition  : — 

Implicit  and  unvarying  obedience  to  orders. 

Entire  abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors. 

Daily  devout  worship  of  God,  in  all  circumstances. 

In  conclusion,  while  we  remember  with  due  esteem  the  life  and 
services,  to  humanity  and  science,  of  Dr.  Kane,  and  lament  his  appa- 
rently-premature death,  le:  us  go  on  to  the  end  of  our  course  fulfilling 
our  duties  with  diligence  and  fidelity.  And  let  us  all,  now  and  at  all 
times,  lift  up  our  hearts  to  God  with  tiio  prayer,  "So  teach  us  to 
number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  to  wisdom." 


CONCLUDING  PRAYERS  AND  BENEDICTION, 

BY  REV.  JAS.  A.  M.  LA  TOUllRETTE, 

EKCTOK   OF    ST.  PAUL's    CnURCII,    COLUMBUS. 


In  the  midst  of  life  wo  •  ro  in  death.  Of  whom  may  wc  seek  for 
succor  but  of  thee,  0  Lord,  who  for  our  sins  art  justly  disploased  ? 

Yet,  ()  Lord  God  must  holy  !  0  liord  most  mighty  !  O  holy  and  most 
merciful  Savior  !  deliver  us  not  into  the  bitter  pains  of  eternal  death. 

Thou  knowest.  Lord,  the  secrets  of  our  hearts :  shut  not  thy  merciful 
OKB  to  our  prayers;  but  spare  us,  Lord  most  Holy,  0  God  most  mighty, 
O  holy  and  merciful  Savior.  Thou  most  worthy  Judge  Paternal,  suffer 
UB  not,  at  our  last  hour,  for  any  pains  of  death  to  fall  from  thee. 

Almighty  God,  with  whom  do  live  the  spirits  of  those  who  depart 
hence  in  the  Lord,  and  with  whom  the  souls  of  the  faithful,  after  they 
are  delivered  from  the  burden  of  the  flesh,  arc  in  joy  and  felicity  :  we 
give  tii«e  Doanjr  thuuks  for  the  good  oxumpius  of  all  those  thy  scrvauta 


DR.    ELISHA   KENT  KANE. 


w  of  the  suffer- 


337 

who  having  finished  their  course  in  fuith,  do  now  rest  from  thoir  labor. 
And  we  beseech  thee  that  we,  with  all  those  who  are  departed  in  the 
true  faith  of  Tliy  holy  name,  may  have  our  perfect  consummation  and 
bliss,  both  in  body  and  soul,  in  thy  eternal  and  everlasting  glory,  throu-h 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen.  ° 

O  merciful  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the 
resurrection  and  the  life,  in  whom  whosoever  believcth  shall  live,  thou-^h 
he   die,   and   whosoever  liveth   and   believeth   in   him   shall    not   die 
eternally;  who  hath  also  taught  us,  by  his  holy  apostle  St.  Paul,  not  to 
be  sorry,  as  mca  without  hope,  for  those  who  sleep  in  him  :  we  humbly 
beseech  thee,  0  Father,  to  raise  us  from  the  death  of  sin  unto  the  life 
ot  righteousness,  that  when  we  shall  depart  this  life  we  may  rest  in 
him,  and  that  at  the  general  resurrection  in  the  last  day  we  may  bo 
found  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  and  receive  that  blessing  which  thy  well 
beloved  Son  shall  then  pronounce  to  all  who  love  and  fear  thee,  sayin- 
-  Come,  ye  blessed  children  of  my  Father,  receive  the  kingdom  prepare'd 
for  you  from  the  beginning  of  the  world."     Grant   this,  we  beseech 
tliee,   0   merciful   Father,    through  ,  Jesus   Christ,  our   Mediator  and 
Kedeemer.     Amen. 


Almighty  and  merciful  God  !  we  humbly  supplicate  thy  fatherly  com- 
passion in  behalf  of  those  parents  whom,  in  thine  unsearchable  wisdom, 
thou  hast  bereaved  of  their  son.  Look  upon  them,  0  Lord,  in  mercy 
Sanctify  this  affliction  to  their  good.  Deepen  within  them  a  sense  of  the 
shortness  and  uncertainty  o^  human  life;  and  let  thy  Holy  Spirit  lead 
them  through  this  vale  of  misery  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  the 
days  of  their  lives.  Licrease  in  then:  true  religion;  nourish  them  with 
all  goodness,  and  of  thy  great  uunxj  keep  them  in  the  same,  throu-h 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen.  ° 

Assist  us  mercifully,  0  Lord,  in  these  our  supplications  and  prayers 
nnd  dispose  the  way  of  thy  servants  toward  the  attainment  of  everlast- 
ing salvation,  that,  among  all  the  changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal  life 
they  may  ever  bo  defended  by  thy  most  gracious  and  ready  help,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen. 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy  name  :  Thy  kingdom 
come:  Thy  will  bo  done  on  earth,  a.s  it  is  in  heaven:  Give  us  this  day 
our  daily  bread :  And  forgive  ua  our  trespasses,  as  wo  forgive  those  who 

22 


338 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


< 


2: 


O 

2j 


trespass  against  us 
from  evil.     Amen. 


And  lead  us  not  into  temptation :  But  deliver  us 


BENEDICTION. 


The  peace  of  God,  which  passoth  all  understanding,  keep  your  hearts 
and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.  And  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  among  you,  and  remain  with  you  always. 
Amen. 

On  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock,  a  procession  was  forined  in  the  following 
order,  and,  with  solemn  music  by  the  band  from  Cincinnati  and  Goodman's 
brass-band,  with  tolling  of  bells  and  other  appropriate  tokens  of  sorrow, 
proceeded  to  the  railroad-station,  whence  a  portion  of  the  Joint  Committee 
proceeded  with  .':0  remains  to  the  city  of  Baltimore, — whore,  by  an 
appropriate  address  by  Professor  S.  31.  Smith,  31. D.,  they  were  delivered 
to  a  committee  appointed  from  that  city  for  their  reception. 

OIIDER  OF  PIIOCESSION. 

CJu'cf  Marshal. — Lucian  Butler. 
Assistant  Marshals. — Richard  Ncvins,  II.  31.  Niel,  Walter  C.  Brown. 

Cincinnati  Band. 
State  Fencibles. — Captain  Reamy. 
Columbus  Cadets. — Captain  Tyler. 


American  Flag. 


PALL-BEARERS. 

Medical  Profession. 

Dr.  Wm.  31.  Awl, 
Dr.  R.  Thompson, 
Dr.  S.  Parsons, 
Dr.  R.  Patterson, 
Dr.  S.  31.  Smith, 
Dr.  John  Dawson. 


PALL-BEARERS. 
Masons. 
W.  B.  Hubbard,  P.G.3I. 
W.  B.  Thrall,  P.G.3I. 
N.  H.  Swayne,  31.31. 
G.  Swan,  Esq.  P.G.O. 
Dr.  L.  Goodale,  P.O.T. 
D.  T.  Woodbury,  31.31. 


» 


Lieutenant  3Jorton,  of  the  Kane  Expedition. 

Committee  to  accompany  the  remains  to  Wheeling. 

Cincinnati  Committee  of  Arrangement. 

Columbus  Committee  of  Arrangement. 

Relatives  of  the  deceased,  in  carriages. 

Reverend  Clergy. 

Goodmau't)  Bund. 


But  deliver  us 


DR.    ELISnA    KENT    KANE. 


339 


Grand  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Governor  of  Ohio  and  Staff. 

Heads  of  Departments,  and  other  State  Officers. 

The  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Medical  Profession. 

City  Council  of  Columbus. 

Mayor  and  City  Officers. 

Firemen. 

Judges  and  Officers  of  Court. 

Citizens  generally. 


;er  C.  Brown. 


CEREMONIES  AT  BALTIMORE. 

On  March  10,  Baltimore  discharged  a  solemn  duty  in  honoring,  tho 
remains  of  the  lan.ontod  Dr.  Kane.  Upon  no  occasion  had  her  citizens 
united  more  generally  or  with  a  greater  earnestness  of  purpose  in  mani- 
festing thei^  appreciation  of  distinguished  worth  r  nd  eminent  services 
Ihe  arrangements  for  the  obsequies  were  well  designed,  and  the  one  puri 
pose  that  animated  those  who  participated  in  them  and  the  vast  throne, 
cal  ed  out  to  witness  their  occurrence  gave  to  the  scene  an  Impressive 
and  grand  solemnity.  ^ 

From  the  Camden  station  to  the  Maryland  Institute  Hall,  the  streets 
were  wa  led  with  people,  whilst  windows,  balconies,  and  roof-tops  were 
occupied  by  spectators.  Through  this  dense  mass,  preserving,  In  spite 
of  Its  denseness,  a  quiet  decorum  that  was  in  itself  the  most  fittin^es- 
tunonial  of  the  occasion,  the  well-arranged  and  imposing  proce'ssion 
passed,  gathering  up  the  good-will,  affection,  and  respect  which  the  popu- 
lation entertained  for  the  noble  soul  that  once  animated  the  cold  remains 
now  passing  onward  to  their  final  resting-place.  A  juster  tribute,  more 
bttingly  expressed,  never  engaged  the  participation  of  her  citizens 

From  the  moment  the  remains  reached  the  Ohio  River  and  were 
placed  in  the  cars  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  they 
have  been  regarded  as  committed  to  the  especial  guardianship  of  Balti- 
more. 

CROSSING  THE  OrilO. 

The  remains  of  the  distinguished  Arctic  explorer.  Dr.  Elisha  K 
Kane,  reached  Bellair  on  Monday  afternoon,  havim.  nn.nn  .Uront  fh-n-h 
from  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  they  had  lain  in  state  in  the  Capitol  o^°er 


340 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


W 


!!>►*** 


'idC 


■■MMi 

O 


w 


Sunday,  the  use  of  which  had  been  tendered  by  the  Governor  as  a  mark 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased. 

The  remains  were  deposited  in  a  car  prepared  for  the  purpose  by  order 
of  the  President  of  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  festooned  with  black 
inside  and  out,  with  white  rosettes ;  and  the  locomotive  drawing  the 
train  was  likewise  trimmed  with  badges  of  mourning. 

On  reaching  Bellair,  a  large  number  of  persons  were  collected  to  pay 
a  passing  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and  the  body  was 
removed  from  the  cars  to  the  steamer  "Blue  Dick,"  preparatory  to  cross- 
ing to  Benwood,  amid  every  demonstration  of  the  kindliest  feeling  by  all 
present.  The  flag  of  the  steamer  was  draped  at  half-mast,  and  the  saloon 
hung  in  mourning,  in  which  a  cenotaph  was  raised  on  which  to  rest  the 
coffin.  Whilst  crossing  the  river  the  bells  of  the  steamer,  and  of  all  the 
locomotives  at  the  railroad-stations  on  either  side,  were  tolled,  the  scene 
being  one  of  the  most  impressive  character. 

On  reaching  Benwood,  the  remains  were  conveyed  from  on  board  the 
steamer  to  a  car  prepared  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  in  which 
to  convey  them  to  Baltimore.  It  was  prepared  especially  for  the  purpose, 
and  was  shrouded  with  the  badges  of  mourning  both  inside  and  out. 

Among  those  who  crossed  the  Ohio  and  entered  the  cars  to  accompany 
the  remains  to  Baltimore  were  the  Cincinnati  and  Columbus  Committees, 
consisting  of  the  following  gentlemen  : — 

Committee  from  Cincinnati. — H.  H.  Robinson,  G-.  S.  Bennett. 

Committee  from  Columbus.— L.  Butler,  Dr.  S.  M.  Smith,  Dr.  A.  S. 
McMillen,  S.  Long,  E.  F.  Rhinehart,  Captain  J.  0.  Remy,  B.  H. 
Nichols,  Hon.  E.  B.  Langdon,  J.  G.  Neal. 

The  Committee  represents  the  military,  the  Masons,  and  the  citi?;en3 
of  Columbus. 

There  was  also,  accompanying  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane,  an  uncle  of 
the  deceased,  and  John  J.  Kane,  Jr.,  his  brother. 

The  officers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  the  Central  Ohio 
Railroad,  at  both  Bellair  and  Benwood,  ex*  >ded  every  attention  to  the 
family  and  committee,  with  the  freedom  of  their  roads  going  and  re- 
turning. 

The  Ohio  Committees  reported  that  at  Zanesville,  and  all  the  principal 
stations  on  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  the  people  assembled  in  great 
numbers,  and  stood  uncovered  while  the  train  was  passing,  whilst  at 
some  points  the  station-houses  and  dwellings  by  the  side  of  the  road 
were  draped  in  mourning,  indicative  of  the  deep  and  wide-spread  feeling 
of  admiration  that  prevailed  for  the  character  and  services  of  the 
deceased,  and  the  heartfelt  sorrow  for  his  early  demise. 


rnor  as  a  mark 


)lled,  the  scene 


DR.  ELISHA  KENT   KANE. 


DISAPPOINTMENT  AT  WHEELING. 


The  announcement  received  at  Wheeling,  on  Saturday  evening,  that 
the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  would  lie  over  on  Sunday  at  the  State  Capitol 
in  Columbus,  was  a  sad  disappointment,  as  ex  --ive  arrangements  had 
been  made  to  pay  a  pnssing  tribute  to  his  meuiory.  The  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Odd-Fellows,  the  military,  the  six  fire-companies,  and  the 
citizens  generally,  had,  in  anticipation  of  the  body  passing  through  that 
city  and  remaining  there  over  Sunday,  made  preparation  for  its'^proper 
reception  and  an  expression  of  the  general  feeling  of  the  community  in 
honor  of  the  memory  of  the  deceased.  Indeed,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
Wheeling  would,  if  opportunity  had  offered,  have  equalled  any  other 
city  on  the  route  in  an  appropriate  expression  of  the  national  grief  for 
the  loss  of  so  distinguished  a  citizen. 


341 


ad  the  citi?;en3 


CROSSING  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

The  train,  with  the  remains,  and  the  Committee,  and  relatives  of  Dr. 
Kane,  left  Beuwood  at  half-past-five  o'clock  on  Monday  evening,  and 
amid  the  darkness  of  night  sped  its  way  across  the  mountains.  There 
was,  therefore,  but  little  opportunity  for  the  people  to  make  any  demon- 
stration,^ though  a  large  number  were  collected  at  all  the  stations  to  see 
the  passing  train. 

At  Fairmount  the  train  stopped  half  an  hour  for  supper,  at  nine  o'clock 
at  night;  and,  notwithstanding  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  the  severity 
of  the  weather,  a  large  portion  of  the  citizens  were  at  the  depot,  and  all 
the  bells  in  the  town  were  tolled  whilst  the  train  remained. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  night  they  passed  along  through  the 
mountain-gorges  without  further  incident.  Cumberland  was  passed  just 
before  daybreak,  a  large  number  of  persons  being  at  the  depot  at  that 
early  hour.  At  the  stations  east  of  Cumberland  there  were  various 
marks  of  respect  shown  the  train  as  it  passed. 

RECEPTION  4BY  THE  BALTIMORE  COMMITTEE. 

At  half.past  six  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning  the  train  reached  Martins- 
burg,  where  a  large  number  of  citizens  with  the  Baltimore  Committee 
were  in  waiting.  The  remains  were  then  formally  transferred  to  the 
charge  of  the  following  gentlemen,  comprising 


842 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


|\* 


^ 


O 

■MX*' 

4&ii 


THE  BALTIMORE  COMMITTEE. 

HON.  W.  GILES,  .    BENJ.  DEFORD,  ESQ., 
JOHNS  HOPKINS,  ESQ.,  WM.  H.  YOUNG,  ESQ., 

PROP.  CAMPBELL  MORI?'IT,  S.nTUEL  SANDS,  ESQ., 

COL.  THOMAS  CARROIT,,  V'EaDELL  BOLLAaAN,  ESQ. 

After  a  short  delay,  during  which  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of 
Martinsburg  viewed  the  remains  with  mournful  interest,  the  train  pro- 
ceeded on  its  way. 

At  Harper's  Ferry  there  was  also  a  large  and  silent  assemblage  of 
epectators,  as  was  also  the  case  at  Ellicott's  Aliils  and  all  the  inter- 
mediate stations. 

ARRIVAL  IN  BALTIMORE. 

The  train  which  was  due  in  Baltimore  at  ten  o'clock  was  an  hour 
behind  timC;  and  on  reaching  the  Camden  Station  an  immense  concourse 
of  persons  were  assembled  to  witness  the  removal  of  the  remains  of  the 
distinguished  deceased  from  the  cars,  among  whom  were  a  goodly  number 
of  ladies  and  children,  who  had  remained  nearly  two  hours  in  waiting. 

The  car  in  which  the  body  was  deposited  was  festooned  with  black, 
and  the  locomotive  bore  a  flag  draped,  whilst  black  streamers  were  float- 
ing from  difierent  parts  of  the  engine. 

A  detachment  of  the  Independent  Grays  were  in  attendance,  under 
command  of  Sergeant  John  Gibson,  who  acted  as  a  guard  to  the  cofiin 
in  its  transportation  from  the  car  to  the  station-house,  where  a  suitable 
catafalque  draped  in  mourning  was  erected  in  the  centre  of  the  large 
hall,  on  which  it  was  placed  and  left  in  charge  of  the  military  detach- 
ment. 

The  anxiety  to  see  the  cofiin  was  very  great,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
close  the  hall.  Marshal  Herring  was  in  attendance,  with  a  large  force, 
to  preserve  the  regulations  adopted  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Immediately  on  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  the  depot,  the  bell  of  the 
First  Baltimore  Hose-Company  commenced  telling,  which  was  responded 
to  by  the  bells  throughout  the  city,  and  continued  up  to  the  closing  of 
the  ceremonies  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

The  hall  of  the  new  depot,  in  whi^li  the  remains  reposed  until  the 
moving  of  the  procession,  had  been  appropriately  draped  in  mourning, 
under  the  direction  of  William  Prescott  Smith,  Esq.,  an  intimate  and 
much-loved  friend  of  the  deceased,  who,  being  an  o^cer  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road,  had  given  his  personal  attention  and  efibrt  to  all  the 
arrangements  for  the  tiausfer  of  the  body  from  Bellair  lu  Balliuiore. 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


343' 


assemblage  of 
all  the  inter- 


THE  PROCESSION.  ' 

At  half-past  two  o'clock  the  remains  were  removed  from  the  dep6t- 
building  and  placed  on  a  gun-carriage  prepared  for  the  purpose  and 
drawn  by  four  horses.  On  the  coffin  was  the  sword  of  the  deceased 
crossed  over  the  scabbard,  (the  sword  was  presented  by  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia,) a  lambskin  apron,  and  sprig  of  evergreen.  The  procession  was 
then  formed  in  the  following  order,  under  the  direction  of  Chief-Marshal 
Anderson : — 

City  Guards. 

Independent  Blues'  Band. 

Lafayette  Guards. 

Company  A  of  Artillery  from  Fort  Henry. 

Grand  Lodge  of  Maryland  and  Subordinate  Lodges  of  Free  and  Accepted 

Masons. 

Guard  of  Honor. 

Independent  Grays,  Capt.  Brush,  wearing  crape  on  the  hat  and  left  arm. 

PALL-BEARERS. 


Surgeon  W.  Mason,  U.S.N. 
Surgeon  H.  S.  Harris,  U.S.N. 
George  P.  Kane, 
Hon.  J.  P.  Kennedy, 
Dr.  J.  R.  W.  Dunbar, 
Prof.  Campbell  Morfit. 


Pi 


PALL-BEARERS. 

Maj.  Donaldson,  U.S.A. 
Surgeon  Talbot,  U.S.A. 
D.  A.  Piper, 
Wm.  Prescott  Smith, 
Hon.  Thomas  Swann, 
Chauncey  Brooks. 


Detachment  of  United  States  Seamen  from  steamship  Alleghany. 

Officers  of  the  Army,  Navy,  and  Marine  Corps. 

Officers  of  the  1st  Light  Division  Maryland  Volunteers. 

The  Mayor  and  City  Councils  of  Baltimore. 

The  Reverend  Clergy. 

The  Medical  Profession,  Dr.  Houck,  Marshal. 

Judges  and  Officers  of  the  various  Courts  and  iMembers  of  the  Bar. 

Commissioners  of  Public  Schools. 

Officers  au  I  Members  of  the  Maryland  Institute. 

Linhardt's  Band. 

Male  School  of  Design. 

Junior  Members  of  the  Maryland  Institute. 

Fire-Companies. 

Marine  Band  from  Washington,  thirty-five  performei-s. 

Mechanical  Fire  Company,  A.  Brashears,  Marshal. 

Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  F.  H.  B.  Boyd,  Marshal. 


¥^ 


344 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


M»4i 


2 
X 

a 


Western  Ilose-Company. 
Literary  Society  of  Loyola  College. 
Faculty  and  Students  of  Newton  University. 
'  German  Turnverein  Association. 

Citizens. 

The  family  of  the  deceased  were  not  in  the  procession,  although  his 
brother  and  uncle  were  in  the  city,  deeming  that  it  would  not  have  been 
proper,  under  the  circumstances,  for  them  to  have  done  so. 

The  Masonic  fraternity  turned  out  in  great  numbers,  and  made  an 
admirable  display,  neat  and  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  being  dressed 
in  black  suits  with  white  gloves  and  aprons,  only  the  officers  of  the 
lodges  wearing  regalia  and  insignia  of  office. 

The  boys  attached  to  the  School  of  Design  attracted  great  attention. 
They  could  not  have  numbered  less  than  three  hundred  and  fifty,  each 
with  a  white  ribbon  in  the  left  lappel  of  their  coats.  The  officers  and 
members  of  the  Institute  were  also  out  in  force,  and  presented  a  good 
representation  of  the  solid,  substantial,  and  useful  men  of  the  city. 

The  military  display  was  small ;  but  the  three  companies  of  Volun- 
teers, with  the  Flying  Artillery  from  Fort  McHenry,  made  an  admirable 
appearance. 

The  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  with  a  detachment  of  seamen 
from  the  steamship  Alleghany,  also  formed  a  pleasing  feature  of  the  cor- 
tege.    The  seamen,  dressed  in  naval  attire,  were  especially  attractive. 

The  Mechanical  Fire-Company,  with  the  famous  band  from  the  Wash 
ington  Navy-Yard,  were,  as  usual,  a  prominent  and  interesting  feature. 
Their  foster-children,  the  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  with 
Lindhart's  Band,  also  made  an  admirable  appearance,  and  proved  them- 
Belves  not  only  firemen,  but  gentlemen  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  word. 
The  Washington  Hose-Company  were  also  in  line,  and  made  a  very  fine 
appearance. 

The  procession,  thus  formed,  moved  up  Eutaw  Street  to  Baltimore 
Street,  and  thence  to  the  Maryland  Institute.  On  reaching  the  Insti- 
tute, the  artillery  filed  to  the  left,  and  the  men  stood  with  arms  pre- 
sented until  the  corpse  was  removed  to  the  main  saloon  and  placed  in 
the  catafalque. 

The  military  was  drawn  up  on  the  east  side  of  the  hall,  from  the  south 
end  to  the  centre,  while  the  Masonic  order,  the  firemen,  the  members 
of  the  Maryland  Institute,  and  other  civic  societies  took  positions  south 
of  the  catafalque  and  entirely  around  that  portion  of  the  hall.  The  Inde- 
pendent Grays,  the  Committee  of  the  Maryland  Institute,  the  officers  of 


DR.   ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


345 


not  have  been 


the  army  and  the  field  and  staff  officers  of  the  first,  fiftieth  and  fifty-third 
regiments  of  Maryland  militia  formed  an  oblong  square.  The  coffin 
was  then  covered  with  the  national  standard  by  the  seamen  from  the 
receiviug-ship  Alleghany. 

At  a  signal  from  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  Rev.  James 
McKenney,  the  Free  Masons  gave  the  grand  honors;  after  which  dir-os 
were  played  by  the  band  from  the  Washington  Navy-Yard  and  the 
Independent  Blues'  Band.  The  procession  then  retired  by  companies, 
leaving  a  detachment  of  the  Independent  Grays  in  charge. 

While  the  procession  was  moving,  minute-guns  were  fired  on  Federal 
Hi  I  by  the  Eagle  Artillery,  and  the  bells  of  the  fire-companies  were 
tolled. 

APPEARANCE  OF  THE  CITY. 

There  was  an  immense  concourse  on  the  streets  to  see  the  cort6-e 
and  all  the  houses  on  the  line  were  filled.  Balconies  and  windows,  and 
every  available  spot,  Avas  occupied. 

The  flags  on  all  the  public  buildings  and  of  the  shipping  in  the 
harbor  were  hoisted  at  half-mast,  and  several  buildings  were  appro- 
Fiately  and  tastefully  hung  with  mourning.  The  houses  of  the  Mechanical 
Fire-Company,  the  First  Baltimore  Hose-Company,  the  literary  depot  of 
Mr.  Henry  Taylor,  the  buildings  of  Messrs.  Stine  Brothers,  and  the 
large  building  of  Messrs.  Weisenfeld,  were  handsomely  decorated:  and 
there  were  others  wearing  the  badge  of  mourning. 

The  request  that  business  should  be  suspended  on  the  streets  throu-h 
which  the  procession  passed,  was  strictly  observed  and  the  thoroughfa^'re 
was  cleared  of  all  obstructions. 

There  has  seldom  been  so  large  a  turn-out  in  the  city,  especially  of 
ladies,  who  numbered  thousands  in  the  houses  and  on  the  sidewalks 
The  event  will  be  long  remembered;  and  Baltimore  has  paid  a  just 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  who  was  worthy  of  her  regard. 

The  remains  lay  in  state  at  the  Maryland  Institute  Hall  last  ni-ht,  in 
charge  of  the  Independent  Grays,  Captain  Brush,  as  a  guard  of  honor, 
and  were  visited  by  an  immense  concourse  of  persons  durin-  the  after- 
noon  and  evening.  We  learn  that  the  sword  placed  on  the  ''cenotaph  at 
the  Institute  was  sent  from  New  York  for  the  purpose  by  Henry  Grin- 
ncll,  Esq.,  it  being  the  same  that  was  presented  to  Dr.  Kane  by  the 
fetate  of  New  York.     It  is  an  exceedingly  rich  and  valuable  weapon. 

The  entire  hall  wore  an  impressive  aspect.  At  the  front  door  was  a 
draped  arch  overhung  by  the  national  standard.     Reaching  the  landing 


346 


OBSEQUIES    Of 


2 

•■MM 
I    WW 

o 

2;: 


the  columns  at  the  right  and  left  were  hung  in  mourning.  The  maip 
saloon,  where  tue  remains  lay  in  state,  had  at  each  end  the  American 
flag,  while  the  gallery  was  draped  throughout  its  entire  length  and  fes- 
tooned at  each  bracket  with  a  white  rosette. 

The  platform  in  the  rear  was  also  draped  and  festooned,  and  the  desk 
wrapped  in  mourning.  In  the  centre  of  the  hall  was  a  catafalque 
aovered  with  black  and  trimmed  with  silver  gimp,  upon  which  the  coflSn 
was  deposited.  At  each  corner  of  the  structure  was  an  American  flag, 
furled  upon  its  staff"  and  capped  with  crape.  On  each  side,  and  sus- 
pended from  the  gallory,  was  a  large  national  standard;  and  on  the  left, 
drooping  over  the  catafalque,  was  a  blue  flag  covered  with  wliite  stars, 
and  on  the  right,  in  the  same  position,  a  small  American  standard. 

The  upholstery  at  the  hall  was  done  by  Holland  and  Conradt,  and  E. 
A.  Gibbs  supplied  the  scarfs  and  badges.  The  tasteful  and  appropriate 
arrangements  in  the  undertaking-department  were  made  by  3Ir.  A. 
Jenkins,  one  of  the  general  committee,  and  of  the  firm  of  A.  &  II. 
Jenkins. 

As  Dr.  Kane  was  an  active  and  most  esteemed  member  of  the  Mary- 
land Institute,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  at  length  the  proceedings  of 
that  association,  preparatory  to  a  demonstration  which  it  made  in  his 
honor. 


MEETING  OF  THE  MARYLAND  INSTITUTE. 

Agreeably  to  announcement  in  yesterday's  papers,  the  members  of 
the  Maryland  Institute  assembled  last  evening  in  the  library-room  of 
the  building,  for  the  purpose  of  testifying  their  regard  for  the  memory 
of  the  late  Dr.  Kane,  and  to  make  necessary  arrangements  fur  receiving 
the  remains.  At  eight  o'clock  the  chair  was  takcMi  by  the  Hon.  TlioMAH 
SWANN,  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  (the  Presi- 
dent, Hon.  Joshua  Vanzant,  being  absent  from  the  city,)  who,  in  a  few 
words,  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting.  He  then  mad''  the  following 
address : — 

Gentlemen  of  the  Maryland  Institute: — It  has  become  my 
painful  duty  to  announce  to  you  the  death  of  o\n  distinguished  country- 
man, Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane.  This  sad  event  took  place  at  Havana,  on 
the  lOth  instant,  whither  ho  had  repaired  for  the  bnnetit  of  his  healthy — 
broken  djwn  by  the  exposure  and  toils  of  his  late  exp:Mlition  to  the 
Arctic  seis.     As  a  member  of  this  Institute,  his  presence  had  become 


DP..    ELISIIA  KENT   KANE. 


347 


,)  who,  in  a  few 


famihar  to  you  all,  and  I  need  hardly  recur  to  associations  which  were 
alike  honorable  to  himself  as  they  were  grateful  to  the  members  of  this 
body.     He  was  one  of  its  early  contributors  and  most  earnest  advocates 
It  was  during  a  recent  visit  abroad,  as  I  have  been  informed,  that  he 
urged  a  friend,  only  loss  distinguished  than  himself,  if  he  ever  visited 

ll^t  r^'^'T'  7;.*««y^^^««^  *be  Maryland  Institute  as  a  prominent 
obje  t  of  interest.  ILs  voice  has  been  Iieard  in  these  halls.  It  was  the 
theatre  of  many  a  noble  effort  of  his  genius  and  his  loarnina-;  and  wo 
may  well  be  permitted  to  drop  a  tear  over  the  loss  we  have  sustained,  iu 
common  with  the  civilized  world. 

Iu  the  midst  of  a  career  such  as  no  man  had  traversed  before  him- 
a  career  marked  by  da  ug  and  adventure,  enriched  by  useful  discovery, 
and  rendered  memorable  by  the  most  generous  impulses  of  the  human 
heai-t-he  has  been  withdrawn  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  triumphs  : 
h  had  reached  the  last  round  of  the  ladder,  and  his  early  exit  has  only 
added  increased  lustre  to  the  brilliant  record  of  that  modest  and  un 
ootrusive  career  which  has  astonished  both  hemisphe-es 

Dr.  Kane  was  one  of  those  who  seemed  to  estimate  life  only  as  a 
incans  of  accomplishing  some  great  and  useful  purpose.  When  the 
stoutest  hearts  quailed,  he  was  unmoved.  In  the  midst  of  frozen  seas 
where  barriers  of  eternal  ice  threatened  to  shut  out  forever  all  hope  of 
reunion  with  the  civilized  world  behind  him,  he  continued  to  press  for- 
ward  with  the  gallant  followers  whom  his  own  courage  had  inspired,  until 
he  reached  a  point  upon  the  earth's  surface  which  no  human  foot  had 

.'round '  "t1  b^^  T^  '""^'  "^•'"^'  ''  ^^^'^"  ^^'""f'^'^  ^  ^-^'^^-^ 
ground.  The  bones  of  the  intrepid  Franklin,  falling  in  the  same  peril- 
ous adventure,  lay  mouldering  upon  the  outskirts  of  this  great  field 
while  the  more  successful  march  .f  the  unsatisfied  American  bore  l.Mn' 
0  he  utmost  verge  of  human  discovery,  beyond  which  no  subsequent 
tiavoller  is  likely  to  penetrate. 

When  we  look  at  the  extreme  youth  of  this  meritorious  officer  at  the 
time  when  he  entered  upon  these  daring  explorations,-when  we  consider 
h.s  patient  endurance,  his  untiring  energy,  his  profound  science,-we 
cannot  contemplate  without  emotion  his  brief  career,  and  the  many 
striking  incidents  of  his  past  history.  ^ 

A  mere  boy,  he  took  upon  himself  the  responsibilities  and  duries  of 
bearded  men;  and,  at  an  age  comparatively  immature,  we  find  him  sink- 
ng  into  the  grave,  crowned  with  the  gli.toring  testimonials  of  princes 
nd  poten  ates,  ol  statesn.en  and  men  ..f  lotters,  vying  wKh   each  other 
to  honor  themselves  lu  doing  homage  to  this  illustrious  American 


348 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


Suel'  was  Dr.  Kane.  Wo  have  mot  here  to-niglit  to  pay  tlio  last 
tribute  to  bis  moinory.  He  was  the  friend  of  this  institution;  be  had 
endeared  himself  to  us  all.  jMay  the  example  ho  has  left  stimulate  us 
to  increased  efibrt  in  the  useful  Held  of  our  labors!  IMay  wo  look  with 
renewed  pride  to  the  results  of  his  successful  life,  and  always  ronieiiiber 
Buch  triumphs  are  to  be  met  with  only  in  the  walks  of  untiring  industry 
and  spotless  virtue  ! 


!;- 


■ 


2 

UJ 

a 

p 


Jlr.  Swann  then  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  which 
had  been  prepared  by  a  committee  of  the  membership: — 

Whereas,  The  Maryland  Institute  has  been  apprized  of  the  death,  at 
Havana,  on  the  Kith  instant,  of  Dr.  Klisha  Kent  Kane,  an  honorary 
member  of  this  Institute;  and 

Whereas,  his  name  has  become  distinguished,  not  only  in  his  own 
country,  but  throughout  the  civilized  world,  for  his  contributions  to 
Bcienee  and  useful  discovery,  placing  him  in  advance  of  the  most 
chivalrie,  skilful,  and  enterprising  of  the  navigators  who  have  gone 
before  him,  in  all  that  was  calculated  to  reflect  honor  upon  his  country 
or  shed  a  lustre  upon  his  own  fame  ;  and 

Wlioreas.  it  is  proper  and  becoming  that  the  whole  country  should 
recogniso  the  severity  of  the  blow  which  has  deprived  us  of  one  of  our 
most  illustrious  citizens,  and  especially  by  the  Maryland  Institute,  whose 
labors  he  has  shared  and  whoso  character  ho  has  contributed  so  largely 
to  adorn  by  the  close  and  intimate  relationship  in  which  he  stood 
toward  us : 

Jutidlnd,  That  the  members  of  the  Maryland  Institute  receive  with 
unmingled  sorrow  the  sad  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Klisha  Kent 
Kane,  and  that  they  tender  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  their  most 
sincere  condolcuco  in  this  heavy  bereavement. 

Jivitohrd,  That  a  conimi*tee  of  twenty-five  of  the  members  of  this 
Institute  be  appointed  in  behalf  of  this  body  to  take  charge  of  the 
remains  of  our  deceased  brother  on  their  arrival  in  l^iltimore,  or  at  su''li 
point  on  the  J?altimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  as  they  may  deem  most  cdii- 
venient  and  proper,  and  that  they  be  instructed  to  make  such  further 
arrangements  as  may  be  necessary  to  represent  the  feelings  of  the  Insti- 
tute on  an  occasion  of  so  much  Borrow  not  only  to  its  own  members  but 
the  whole  community. 

Jir.sufvrtf,  That  the  presiding  officer  of  this  Tnstit>ito  be  instructed  to 
enclose  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  together  with  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting,  to  the  fauiily  of  tho  doccaseJ. 


DR.    ELISnA   KENT   KANE. 


349 


,0  pay  tlie  last 
Lutioii ;  he  had 
ft  stiiuulate  us 
ly  wo  look  with 
ways  reineiMbor 
itiring  industry 


ujlutiuus,  which 


)f  the  death,  at 
10,  an  honorary 

)ly  in  his  own 

lontributions  to 
c  of  tho  most 
v'lio  have  gone 
on  liis  country 


country  should 
i  of  Olio  of  our 
Institute,  whoso 
jutcd  80  hirgcly 
;vhich  he  stood 

te  rpccivo  with 
'r.  Klisha  Kent 
ised  their  uiost 

lembors  of  tliis 
charge  of  the 
norc,  or  at  su'.-h 
loom  most  con- 
co  such  further 
gs  of  the  Insti- 
r'u  members  but 

be  instructed  to 
ceedings  of  this 


Tho  paper  having  been  read,  Wiliiara  II.  Young,  Esq.,  arose  and 
seconded  tho  resolutions,  and  paid  the  following  tribute  to  the  lamented 
Arctic  Explorer : — 

3Iii.  Chairman  :— The  announcement  of  tho  death  of  Dr.  Kane, 
though  not   unexpected,  comes,   nevertheless,  right   homo  to  all  our 
hearts.   ^  I  cannot  at  this  moment  call  to  memory  the  name  of  any  one 
in  all  this  broad  land  whoso  death  would  strike  a  chord  so  sympathetic 
or  so  universal  as  that  of  this  young  man.     I  know  no  name  that  has 
become  so  fondly  familiar  in  tho  hearts  and  homes  of  tho  people  as  his 
Admiration  at  the  gallant  story  of  his  life,  honor  and  applause  for  tho 
noble  disehargo  of  duty,  do  not  express  tho  deeper  feelings  with  which  ho 
was  regarded.     The  affectionate  esteem  which  usually  attends  only  warm 
personal  attachment  can  al.,ne  adequately  represent  tho  sentiment  enter- 
tained for  him  by  those  who,  though  they  knew  not  his  person,  respon- 
sively  yiol.l,.d  their  affections  to  the  holy  instincts  of  his  inner  life  and 
nature.     His  high  ambition,  his  noblo    zeal,  his   indomitable  energy, 
were  so  hUahA  with  the  bo.iest  frankness  of  his  disposition,  the  ten- 
derness of   his  love,   the  generous  sympathy  of   his   heart,  and  all  so 
resplendent,  and  so  enlisted  in  tho  success  of  the  enterprises  to  which 
he   had  lent  tho  fulness  of  Iii.s  mind,  as  to  distinguish  a  character  to 
which    his  friends  could  desire  nothing  added.      IJis  name  will   ever 
bo  associated  with  th^t  of  Lady  Franklin,  and  with  her  undying  devo- 
tion  and  love.     Unto  the  untiring  hope  and  praye-ful  perseverance  of 
that  noble  Englishwoman  ho  seemed  almost  to  have  w.^lded  himself. 
Cordial  and  tender  were  tho    sympathies  that  had  gi.jwn  up  between 
them ;  and  her  widowed  heart  is  yet  to  griavo  over  his  untimely  death 
as  though  another  of  her  own  best-loved  ones  has  been  torn  from  her 
arms. 

lie  devoted  tho  early  years  of  his  manhood  to  danger,  to  toil,  and  to 
suffering  for  a  purpose  almost  hopeless ;  yet  no  man  called  him  ra>Ii. 
lie  sacrificed  fortune,  healtii,  and  life  itself,  that  a  very  shadow  might 
assume  reality;  and  men  looked  on  amazed  yet  admiring,  silent  yet 
exulting.  Never  did  expedition  leave  the  shores  of  its  homo  blessed 
with  so  many  prayers  as  those  which  followed  the  Advance  on  her  last 
voyage.  Never  did  the  public  mind  more  anxiously  wait  for  a  result 
or  more  ardently  hope  for  its  safety.  And  when  those  sent  to  their 
succor  brought  tho  bravo  crow  back  to  their  own  land  again,  tho  world 
breathed  freer  for  a  while,  and  the  universal  heart  uttered  a  prayer  of 
thanksgiving. 

And  now  but  a  brief  year  ha.?  passed,  and  wo  have  met  Lore  to  pay  u 


350 


OBSEQUIES  OF 


'-i' 


2 

of 
O 


last  tribute  to  his  memory,  feebly  to  express  our  sense  of  the  loss  the 
world  has  sustained  in  his  death,  and  to  mingle  our  heartfelt  sorrow  with 
that  which  the  brave  and  generous  everywhere  must  feel  at  the  event. 

Dr.  Kane  has  died  early  in  manhood.  His  career,  though  short,  was 
eventful  and  memorable.  Forbearance,  devotion,  sacrifice,  submission 
to  toil  and  the  endurance  of  privation,  were  the  features  of  his  living; 
but  heroic  courage  and  dauntless  energy  gaA^e  crowning  glories  to  Lis 
young  life,  and  now  bring  hallowed  memories  to  consecrate  his  early 
grave.  His  was  an  exalted  and  earnest  nature,  with  an  inborn  right 
to  immortality.  How  greatly  hath  he  achieved  it !  Science  had  "no 
worthier  worshipper,  humanity  no  more  devoted  spirit.  Loyal  to  duty, 
he  had  genius  to  conceive  and  power  to  perform.  Pure  of  heart, 
truthful  and  generous,  the  hearts  of  those  around  hmi  gathered  close  to 
his.  The  humblest  of  the  gallant  crew  who  shared  his  fortunes  through 
the  long,  frozen  nights  of  Arctic  winters  felt  cheerier  in  his  presen°e 
and  hajipier  at  the  sound  of  his  voice.  He  was  unostentatious,  and  in 
his  manner  modest  even  as  became  the  high  behests  of  his  great  nature. 
The  friends  who  knew  him  best,  and  the  dear  ones  at  home,  forget  the 
claims  of  his  mere  achievements  in  the  love  more  precious  which  tlic.se 
golden  qualities  inspired.  In  more  than  one  land  his  death  shall  bo 
celebrated  by  throbbing  breasts  and  tearful  eyes;  and  his  memory  shall 
^e  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of  the  good  of  both  sexes,  and  of  every  a"-c 
ind  of  every  clime. 

The  history  of  bis  brief  life  presents  a  brigiit  example  to  his  young 
countrymen,— a  beaatiful  memory  for  the  grateful  homage  of  his  brothers 
in  the  service. 

We  could  have  wished  that  his  enterprises  had  been  crowned  with 
fuller  success,— not,  indeed  for  his  fame's  sake,  (for  the  glory  of  his  name 
is  secure,)  but  to  have  made  niore  complete  his  own  happiness.  iJut  lie 
heeds  not  these  things  now.  Ho  hath  laid  himself  down  with  the  bravo 
to  sleep.  Death  hath  kissed  him  with  lips  colder  than  the  north 
wind's  breath.  Life,  with  its  behests  and  hopes,  is  over.  He  lives 
with  the  immortal  dead. 

The  Hon.  John  P.  Kennedy,  late  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  member 
of  the  3Iarylund  Institute,  spoke  as  follows  : — 


I  am  not  willing,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  allow  the  prosent  opportunity  to 
pass  without  a  few  words  from  me  to  express  my  hearty  concurrence  in 
the   object  pro^^osed  by  the  resolutions   which  have  been  ulreaJy  so 


DR.  ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


vy,  and  nieinbor 


________  351 

eloquently  commended    by   yourself  and   other  gentlemen  who   have 
spoken,  and  so  cordially  received  by  the  committee.     It  is  peculiarly 
appropriate  that  the  leading  part  of  the  manifestation  of  a  purpose  to 
do  honor  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane  should  be  assumed  by  the  Mary- 
land Institute.     He  was  a  distinguished  member  of  this  body,  whose 
fellowship  he  cherished  to  the  latest  moment  of  his  life  with  a  most 
grateful  remembrance  of  the   earnest,  and,  I  n,ight  say,  affectionate, 
nterest  which  It  took  in  the  preparation,  the  progress,  and  the  consumma! 
ion  of  both  of  h.s  expeditions  to  the  Arctic  circle.     It  was  foremost  in 
the  study  of  his  grand  design,-the  first  to  cheer  him  onward  to  its 
accomplishment,  the  first  to  applaud  his  achievements.     In  the  hall  of 
the  Institute  he  ever  found  an  overflowing  audience  to  listen  to  his 
exposition  of  his  plans;  and  there,  too,  he  found  the  largest  sympathy 
m  the  utterance  of  his  hopes.     No  associated  body  in  the  United  States, 
no  section  of  the  general  community  outside  of  his  immediate  and  most 
intimate  friends,  met  him  with  the  same  hearty  appreciation  of  his 
purpose,  or  with  such  cheerful  tones  of  encouragem  ^nt,  as  the  Maryland 
Institute,  and  the  great  mass  of  the  intelligent  citizens  of  Baltimore  who 
are  accustomed  to  frequent  its  rooms.     The  brave  explorer  felt,  through- 
out all  the  hazards  and  toils  of  his  perilous  ventures,  that  he  had  a  host 
of  friends  here  who  thought  hopefully  of  him  in  his  darkest  duy,  who 
watched  h.s  fortunes  with  an  eager  solicitude  and  listened  with  anxious 
concern  for  the  first  tidings  of  his  return.     It  was  a  source  of  strength 
to  his  resolution  amidst  the  dangers  of  his  path,  and  an  ever-present 
encouragement  to  his  labors,  that  he  had  such  friends  at  home  ready  to 
welcome  the  moment  which  should  give  him  back  to  his  country,  and 
still  more  ready  to  approve  and  applaud  the  generous  aims  of  his  enter- 
prise,    te.r,  those  sentiments  on  both  sides  created  an  intimate  relation 
between  Dr.  Kane  and  the  Maryland  Institute,  and  now  give  a  peculiar 
appropriateness  to  the  purposes  of  the  present  meeting 

Nothing  that  I  can  say  on  this  occasion  can  enhanc^e  the  hig\  esteem 
which  this  community  entertains  for  the  character  and  exploits  of  the 
young  hero  to  whom  the  spontaneous  feeling  of  the  country  at  this 
moment  is  according  such  extraordinary  honors.  I  do  not  speak  with 
the  expectation  of  adding  any  thing  to  that  esteem  :  my  purpose  in  utter- 
ing a  word  hero  is  rather  to  ^.J  :  ;  a  personal  wish  to  perform  a  duty 
to  a  friend  with  whom  I  w..  coa.ected  under  circumstances  that  fur- 
nished  me  many  occasions  to  r-drnre  his  manly  virtues  and  rare  accom- 
plL^hments.  (Sir,  I  think  I  may  .peak  of  Dr.  Kanu  with  more  intimate 
knowledge  than  perhaps  any  member  of  this  oomn)ittee.     My  iutercou  se 


352 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


Up. 


X 


a 


with  him,  both  private  and  official,  was  of  a  kind  that  enables  me  to 
recall  many  interesting  particulars  touching  his  ladt  expedition. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  be  brought  into  a  confidential  communion 
with  him  at  a  time  when  my  friendship  could  be  made  useful  in  fur- 
nishing essential — I  might  rilmost  say  indispensable — aid  to  the  success 
of  that  most  perilous  of  his  Arctic  explorations,  that  voyage  of  which 
the  result  has  been  to  furnish  the  most  remarkable  of  all  the  records  yet 
given  to  the  world  of  Polar  discovery.  The  liberality  of  two  private 
gentlemen  whose  names  are  already  highly  exalted  on  the  rolls  of  munifi- 
cent and  public-spirited  men  --Henry  Grinnell  and  George  Peabody — 
hod  contributed  the  money  to  the  outfit  of  that  expedition  j  but,  not- 
withstanding their  liberality,  it  still  stood  in  need  of  many  most  necessary 
supplies.  Dr.  Kane  had  been  invited  to  take  the  command.  Indeed,  I 
believe  the  project  of  this  secmd  expedition  to  the  Northern  seas  had 
originated  with  himself,  stimulated  to  it  by  a  correspondence  with  that 
distinguished  lady  whose  devotion  to  a  hopeless  pursuit  of  the  traces  of 
her  lost  husbjuid.  Fir  John  Franklin,  has  for  years  past  been  the  theme 
of  a  world-wide  admiration  and  .sympathy.  Her  acquaintance  with  Dr. 
Kane,  and  her  confidence  in  his  extraordinary  ability  for  such  an  under- 
taking, had  been  formed  in  the  progress  of  his  participation  in  Do 
Haven's  voyage;  and  she  was  prompt  to  advise  and  encourage  our 
friend's  overture  by  the  strongest  appeals  to  that  generous  aspiration 
of  his  which  was  not  less  ennobled  by  the  benevolence  of  its  object 
than  the  gallantry  and  skill  which  he  was  able  to  bring  to  its  achieve- 
ment. 

He  communicated  his  views  and  plans  to  me,  sir;  but  I  did  not  he.si- 
tate  to  say  to  him  that  I  would  assist  him  with  every  means  I  might 
find  myself  authorized,  by  my  position  at  the  head  of  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment, to  put  at  his  disposal.  I  accordingly  suggested  to  him  that  I 
would  bring  the  expedition  within  the  control  of  the  Government  l)y 
adopting  it  as  a  public  enterprise,  and  by  giving  him  a  special  order  to 
conduct  it  under  the  direction  of  the  Department.  In  pursuance  of  this 
purpose,  I  forthwith  issued  to  Dr.  Kane  the  order  "  to  conduct  an 
expedition  to  the  Arctic  seas  in  search  of  Sir  John  Franklin,"  enjoin- 
ing upon  him  to  make  his  reports  to  the  head  of  the  Navy  Department, 
Having  thus  brought  him  into  this  relation,  he  became  entitled  to  what 
is  understood  in  the  navy  as  "  duty-pay,"  by  which  he  received  a  small 
addition— -I  wish  it  had  been  more — to  his  means  for  defraying  the 
expenses  of  the  voyage.  I  also  detailed  for  hin,  in  the  course  of  his 
preparation,  some  chosen  men  from  the  service,  consisting  in  all  often  oul 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


353 

of  tl.o  entire  party  of  seventeen.     These  were  entitled  to  their  pay  and 
rations  fron.  the  Governnient.     Son.  other  fl.cilities-all  that  I  eould 
grant  from  the  ordinary  resources  of  the  navy  without  a  specific  appro- 
priation by  Congress-were   added,  in  the  supply  of  nautical  i,  sL- 
mons    maps    and  charts,  and,  I  believe,  also  some  preserved   meats 
vegetables  and  other  provisions.     The  Department,  however,  couid  noi 
do  so  much  as  was  needful ;  and  I  felt,  at  the  departure  of  the  exnedi- 
lon   that  no  small  risk  would  attend  the  comparatively  scanty  amount 
of     upphos  for  such  a  voyage.     Never,  I  believe,  in  the    history  of 
exploration   has  a  national  adventure  so  full  of  peril,  and  so  certain  of 
hardships,  been  committed  to  the  chances  of  wind  and  wave  and  inho«- 
pitab.e  shores,  so  inadequately  furnished  as  this,-never  one  that  had 
more  in  it  to  quell  the  courage  and  try  the  hardihood  of  its  commander 
irom  caases  attributable  to  the  insufficiency  of  its  outfit.     Kane  seemed 
to  have  a  painful  consciousness  of  this  fact.     Almost  his  last  words  to 
mo  were,  '^My  friend,  if  I  am  not  home  before  the  second  winrer  keep 
your  thoughts  upon  us,  and  get  the  Government  by  all  means  to  s  nd  in 
relief      We  shall  stand  sadly  in  need  of  help."     I  promised  him  I 
would  do  my  part  in  such   an  event  •  and,  sir,  when  the  time  came  I 
did  not  forget  it.     I  rejoice  to  add  that  the  Government  in  that  eme>-. 
goncy  needed  no  prompting,  and  that  the  relief,  as  you  well  know  in 
due  time  went  upon  its  successful  errand  of  grateful  duty,   under  'the 
ead  of  a  gallant  captain  who  sped,  with  the  faith  of  a  true  co..rado  and 
the  characteristic  devotion  of  his  profession,  to  the  rescue  of  that  shat- 
tered htte  band  whose  fate  many  then  thought  scarcely  les.  precarious 
than  that  of  the  unhappy  adventurers  they  had  themselves  gone  forth  to 
seek  and  succor. 

Among  many  letters  in  my  possession  I  have  tvo  from  Dr.  Kane 
^hich  I  preserve  with  scrupulous  regard.     One,  I  L.Hove.  is  the  last  he 
wrote  on  bidding  adieu  to  an  American  shore.     It  was  written  at  St 
John  s  xn  Newfoundland,  on  the  outward  voyage.     It  was  to  inform  me 
that  a  1  was  well  at  that  point,  and  to  relieve  me  of  a  solicitude  for  him- 
self which  he  knew  .listurbod  me  at  the  time  of  his  departure.     He  had 
Bpont  the  previous  winter  in  Washington  in  almost  daily  intercourse 
with  myself;   and  I  had  seen   with  conecrn  the  terrible  tax  he  had 
unposed  upon  his  health  in  the  unremitting  study  of  preparation  for  his 
voyage.     JI,.s  incessant  labor  day  and  night  had  made  a  visible  inroad 
upon  his  strength;  and  I  was  obliged  often  to  caution  him  a^rainst  the 
consoquencos,  and  to  entreat  him  to  desist  from  work.     Ni-ht  after 
mght  was  spent  till  dawn  of  day  at  his  desk.     Ho  grew  thin  Tnd  pale 

23  ' 


354 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


2 

X 

o 

21 


and  manifestly  enfeebled.  At  length,  when  all  was  ready  in  April  for 
his  voyage,  and  his  appointed  time  for  sailing  had  come,  he  was  struck 
down  with  a  rheumatic  fever,  which  confined  him  for  some  weeks  to  his 
bed,  and  when  he  was  next  reported  only  convalescent  I  was  surprised 
to  learn  that  he  had  gone  aboard  at  New  York  and  stood  out  to  sea. 
Commencing  such  a  voyage  under  such  circumstances,  his  friends 
naturally  felt  a  great  concern  for  his  success.  His  letter  from  St.  John's 
was  written  to  assure  me  that  he  had  conquered  his  malady,  and  he  was 
ready  for  the  sterner  contests  that  awaited  him. 

This  first  letter  was  dated  in  June,  1853.  The  second — in  October, 
1855,  two  years  and  four  months  later — was  dated  off  Sandy  Hook, 
announcing  his  return.  It  speaks  joyfully  of  the  pleasant  days  before 
him,  and  describes  his  health  as  singularly  robust.  There  is  in  it,  too, 
a  playful  allusion  to  a  claim  made  by  the  British  Explorations  contem- 
poraneous with  the  former  voyage  of  De  Haven,  which  had  been  a 
subject  of  remark  in  the  maps  of  the  Admiralty,  in  which  "  Grinnell 
Land"  of  our  chart  is  described  as  "Albert  Land."  He  says  now,  in 
this  letter,  "I  found  another  Grinnell  Land,"  alluding  to  the  most 
remote  region  of  his  recent  discovery,  "which  any  man  is  welcome  to 
who  will  go  after  it." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  when  he  called  upon  me.  I  never  saw  him 
looking  so  well.  He  said  himself,  "  My  health  is  almost  absurd.  I 
have  grown  like  a  walrus."  I  mention  these  trivial  facts  to  show  that 
it  was  not  his  voyage  to  which  we  may,  with  any  certainty,  attribute 
his  subsequent  ill  health.  The  ardor  of  his  spirits  and  energy  of  his 
mind  conquered  all  the  difficulties  of  his  expedition  ;  but,  I  fear,  we 
may  assign  to  that  very  ardor  the  unhappy  sequence  of  decaying  strength 
which  has  now  laid  him  low  and  caused  this  general  sorrowing  in  our 
country.  He  set  himself  immediately  upon  the  laborious  task  of  pre- 
paring those  volumes  of  surpassing  interest  which  give  us  the  history 
of  his  adventures,  and  which  are  now  in  every  one's  hand.  The  change 
from  an  active  life  to  the  sedentary  pursuits  of  his  study,  his  task 
pursued  with  that  unremitting  industry  which  was  the  habit  of  his 
nature,  and  which  I  had  so  often  rebuked  and  attempted  to  check  in 
the  days  of  his  preparation  in  Washington, — to  this  I  look  as  the  more 
probable  cause  of  that  decline  which  advanced  with  such  fearful  speed 
toward  the  grave.  A  spirit  so  eager,  determination  so  intense,  over- 
looked and  seemed  to  forget  the  repose  and  the  nurture  that  were 
essential  to  health;  and  Kane,  the  beloved  and  the  lamented,  has  fallen  a 
victim  to  the  uncontrollable  energy  of  his  own  will.     What  the  rigors 


BR.    ELISnA  KENT  KANE. 


355 


is  welcome  to 


of  the  Pole,  and  the  long  Arctic  night,  and  the  ice-bound  prison-house 
ot  frozen  seas,  could  not  subdue,  has  been  overthrown  by  the  insidious 
nssault  of  the  midnight  lamp  and  the  dead  wood  of  the  desk 

Stern  as  were  the  trials  of  that  Polar  voyage,  neither  they  nor  the 
subsequent  labors  of  his  study  had  quenched  his  zeal  in  the  career  to 
wh.ch  he  had  devoted  his  life.     He  longed  to  repeat  them  in  a  new 
endeavor,  to  which  he  was  instigated  by  the  combined  influence  of  a 
hope  to  ascertain  something  more  definite  in  regard  to  the  fate  of 
Irankhn  s  party,  (concerning  which  the  recent  reports  of  Dr.  Rea  had 
accounted,  in  his  opinion,  only  for  a  portion  of  the  whole  number,  leav- 
mg  room  to  conclude  th.t  traces  of  the  remainder  might  still  be  found,) 
and  of  the  attractions  of  scientific  investigation  in  the  great  field  of 
geological  phenomena  which  these  wonderful  realms  of  ice  present 
_    Soon  after  h,s  work  was  published,  (September,  1856,)  Lady  Franklin 
intiniated  to  him  her  wish  to  equip  another  expedition,  and  obtained,  as 
I  understood,  the  consent  of  the  Admiralty  to  invite  him  to  take  com- 
niand  of  it.     This  ofler  fired  his  imagination  with  the  ardor  of  new 
hopes  in  the  cause  of  humanity  and  science,  and  the  ambition  of  still 
greater  achievements.     He  came  to  consult  me  on  the  subject.     I  did 
all  I  could  to  dissuade  him  from  further  pursuit  of  an  adventure  which 
i  thought  too  hazardous  and  too  hopeless  of  success.     I  found  that  this 
had  been  the  advice  of  other  friends;  and  there  was  a  manifest  tone  of 
dejection  and   disappointment  in  his    reluctant   acquiescence  in  these 
counsels.     -  I  dislike  to  give  it  up,"  he  said;  "  and,  if  it  were  not  for 
one  consideration  that  touches  me  very  nearly,  I  should  persist  in  goin<.. 
M>/mofheris  distressed  at  it,"  he  added,  "and  wishes  me  to  abandon 
the  thought.     I  can  resist  other  persuasions,  but  that  must  settle  the 
question  with  me."     And  afterward,  recurring  again  to  it,  he  said,  -It 
IS  so  fla.tering  an  offer  to  me,  coming  from  a  foreign  ]and,-the  com- 
mand of  an  expedition  fitted  out  in  England  and  intrusted  to  me  upon 
the  invitation  of  friends  there,  and  sanctioned  by  the  Admiralty :  it  goes 
hard  with  me  to  decline  it." 

As  I  was  about  visiting  England  myself  at  the  time  of  this  conversa- 
tion, he  asked  me  to  call  on  Lady  Franklin  in  London  and  explain  to 
her  why  he  could  not  accept  this  offer,  and  to  say  how  much  he  prized 
the  honor  it  was  intended  to  confer  upon  him.  This  was  the  last  inter- 
view I  ever  had  wiMi  him.  I  sailed  a  few  days  afterward,  and  when  in 
London  I  made  several  visits  to  Lady  Franklin,  and  faithfully  commu- 
nicated to  her  what  he  had  desired  me  to  say.  At  the  Admiralty  Kane 
was  well  known  and  greatly  esteemed;  and  it  was  no  small  satisfaction 


356 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


^| 


IJU 


2: 

•mm 
•JLa 

o 


to  me  to  find  there  that  his  character  and  services  were  associated,  in  the 
minds  of  the  most  intelligent  men,  with  sentiments  of  the  highest 
esteem  for  our  navy  in  general.  I  am  convinced  that  his  fame  reflected 
a  lustre  upon  our  whole  naval  service,  and  that  he  was  regarded,  in 
some  degree,  as  the  representative  and  type  of  the  accomplishment, 
gallantry,  and  patriotic  devotion  to  duty  of  the  whole  corps  of  American 
naval  officers,  whose  character,  both  abroad  and  at  home,  is  identified 
with  the  highest  renown  of  our  republic. 

Such  was  the  confidence  and  respect  which  Kane  had  inspired  in  the 
official  ranks  of  the  British  n.ivy,  and  among  the  scientific  men  con- 
nected with  it,  that  the  Admiralty  did  not  hesitate  to  accept  and  adopt 
his  charts  for  the  correction  of  their  own,  and— with  a  promptitude 
which  no  less  does  honor  to  their  integrity  and  sense  of  justice  than  it 
evinces  their  friendly  dispositions  toward  our  country — to  acknowledge 
the  claim  of  our  first  expedition  under  De  Haven  to  that  priority  of  dis- 
covery of  the  ''  Grinnell  Land"  to  which  I  have  alluded  as  heretofore  a 
subject  of  discussion.  The  Admiralty  have  been  wanting  in  no  just 
and  grateful  recognition  of  the  results  and  value  of  both'c"  •"  expedi- 
tions, nor  in  the  highest  commendation  of  the  public  sjnrii  ■■  losc  who 
originated  and  conducted  them.  It  is  only  by  such  ini  aange  of 
grateful  service  and  liberal  appreciation  that  two  great  nations  allied  to 
each  other  by  kindred  of  blood  and  affinity  of  ambition  in  promoting  the 
great  ends  of  civilization  may  hope  to  confer  upon  themselves  and  man- 
kind that  incalculable  good  which  shall  make  their  power  a  permanent 
blessing  to  the  world.  It  should  be  the  desire  and  policy  of  both  to 
cultivate  this  disposition  in  all  their  intercourse. 

Upon  my  return  to  my  own  country,  I  found  that  Kane  had  just 
sailed  for  England.  His  reception  there  was  all  that  might  have  been 
expected.  In  the  midst  of  the  gratulations  that  were  offered  to  him, 
and  the  happy  greetings  of  his  reception,  we  were  afflicted  with  the 
startling  reports  of  his  failure  in  health,  and  the  still  more  alarming 
tidings  that  he  was  obliged  to  seek  a  more  sunny  clime.  The  next 
news  brought  us  warning  from  Havana  of  his  quick  decay,  and,  soon 
afterward,  the  report  of  his  death .  His  body  is  now  upon  its  way  to 
the  home  of  his  youth,  attended  by  mourning  friends.  In  its  passage 
through  our  city  let  us  receive  it  with  such  honors  as  shall  announce  our 
high  appreciation  of  his  whdle  character  and  service,  and  express  the 
profound  sorrow  of  this  community.  The  character  and  services  of  Dr. 
Kane  are  worthy  of  being  preserved  in  the  memory  of  the  nation.  A 
gentler   spirit   and  a  braver  were   never   united  in   one   bosom.     He 


DR.   ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


357 


possessed  the  modest  reserve  of  the  student  in  combination  with  the 
ardent  love  of  adventure  and  darin.  which  distinguished  the  most 
rornant.  son  of  chivah-y.  With  e.ual  .eal  and  abili^  he  pursued  th 
a  t,Mn„H.nt  of  science  and  the  hardiest  toil  of  exploration.  It  was 
pleasant  .  contemphUe  so  much  defiance  of  danger,  such  rugged  adven- 
ture, su.h  capab,  Uy  for  severe  exposure  to  the  roughest  tbor,  in  a 
naan  ot   such  dehcato  nurture  and  so  nnld  and  gentle  in  deportment. 

and  hard.hood  of  Captam  John  Smith,  of  our  own  colonial  history. 
Such  a  character  is  a  .del  for  the  training  of  youth  and  a  subject  for 
the  applause  of  mature  age.  The  early  death  of  Dr.  Kane  has  been 
recog„,sed  as  a  national  loss;  and  the  honors  which  have  been  awarded 

conducted  o  the.r  final  resting-place,  are  such  as  we  have  heretofore 
a  corded  only  to  the  most  eminent  men  of  our  country.  I  find  a  mourn- 
fu  pleasure  Mr.  Cha.nnan,  in  being  able  this  evening  to  concur  with 
hseouHn.ttee:nthcn.easurcs  they  have  proposed  by  which  this  city 
may  unite  in  this  general  tribute  of  respect.  ^ 

Upon  motion   the  Mayor  was  then  directed  to  appoint  the  committee 
of  twenty-five,  which  he  did. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Kennedy,  the  chairman  was  added  to  the  committee. 


The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  committee  :— 


IlOy.  JOSHUA  VANSANT, 
IIOX.  JOHN  P.  KENXEDY, 
JAMES  M.  ANDERSON, 
JAMES  MURRAY, 
JNO.  ROGERS, 
AVILLIAM  H.  YOUNG, 
ADAM  DENMEAD, 
HON.  REVERDY  JOHNSON, 
JOHNS  HOPKINS, 
J.  CRAWFORD  NEILSON, 
SAMUEL  IIINDES, 
GEORGE  A.  DAVIS, 

D.  L. 


JNO.  DUKEIIART, 
HUGH  A.  COOPER, 
THOMAS  TRIMnLE, 
WILLIAM  H.  KEIGHLER, 
WENDELL  BOLLMAN, 
T.  M.  CONRADT, 
SAMUEL  SANDS, 
PROF.  CAMPBELL  MORFIT, 
HUGH  BOLTON, 
LAWRENCE  SANGSTON, 
GEORGE  \V.  ANDREWS, 
ROBERT  LESLIE, 
BARTLETT. 


On  motion  of  John  Dukehart,  Esq.,  the  meeting  then  adjourned. 

On  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  Uth,  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane 
were,  with  great  solemnity,  removed  from  the  Hall  of  the  Maryland 


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Institute,  and  conveyed  mth.  becoming  accompaniment  to  the  dep6t  of 

the  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Kailroad,  under  the  immediate  direction 

af  the  following-named  gentlemen  : — 

HON.  JOSHUA  VANSANT,  JOHN  DUKEHART, 

HUGH  A.  COOPER,  THOMAS  TRIMBLE, 

JOHN  ROGERS. 

With  them  was  the  delegation  from  the  Philadelphia  Joiut  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements.  At  Elkton,  Md.,  a  committee  from  the 
Masonic  Order,  and  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  were  introduced 
to  the  delegation.  This  committer  consisted  of  the  following-named 
persons : — 

HON.  JOHN  M.  WALES,  CHARLES  STEWARD, 

CAPT.  GEORGE  N.  HOLLINS,        DR.  J.  WHITE, 
CHRISTIAN  RAUCH,  J.  S.  VALENTINE, 

WILLIAM  JORDAN,     •  DR.  JOHN  SIMMS, 

HON.  D.   W.  BATES. 

At  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  at  Chester,  Pa., — the  stopping  places  of  the 
cars, — thousands  of  cicizens  were  assembled  to  do  honor  to  the  deceased. 

A  hasty  glance  at  the  public  proceedings  of  citizens  and  corporations 
of  cities  and  States,  on  the  occasion  of  the  arrival  of  the  remains  of  Dr. 
Kane,  has  been  taken.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  record  all:  a 
volume  would  not  contain  them.  It  seemed  sufficient  to  note  the  par- 
ticular points  at  which  it  was  necessary  for  the  boats  or  cars  containing 
the  body  of  Dr.  Kane  to  rest,  and  to  refer,  in  most  cases  generally,  to 
the  proceedings  in  reference  to  the  distinguished  dead. 

But  demonstrations  of  high  respect  were  not  limited  to  processions 
with  the  body.  They  were  provided  for  wherever  it  was  supposed  the 
remains  would  pass, — especially  at  Pittsburg,  in  this  State.  In  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  most  appropriate  and  eloquent  tributes  were  paid 
to  the  gifted  son  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  Legislatures  of  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  and  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  almost  all  the  scientific 
associations  of  the  country,  special  action  was  had  with  regard  to  the 
eminent  services  and  early  death  of  Dr.  Kane.  As  aniung  the  most 
touching  memorials  of  deep  aifection  and  ineff"aceablo  gratitude  for  the 
dead  may  bo  cited  the  resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
panions of  Dr.  Kane  in  his  Arctic  Expedition,  which  are  subjoined: — 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMPANIONS  Ob  DR.  KANE. 

The  surviving   members  of  the  late  Arctic  Expedition  met  at  the 
La  Pierre  House,  on  Friday  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  such 


DR.   ELISHA    KiiNT    KANE. 


359 

action  as  might  be  deemed  appropriate  ia  view  of  the  regretted  death  of 
their  late  commauder,  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  calling  Dr.  I.  I.  Hayes  to  the 
chair,  and  appointing  Mr.  Amos  Bonsall  Secretary.  On  cnliin-  the 
meeting  to  order,  Dr.  Hayes  said,  in  explanation  of  their  object  iu 
coming  together, — 

We  little  thought,  comrades,  v;hen  we  so  often  spoke  of  the  raeetin-s 
we  would  have  upon  our  return  home,  that  the  first  would  be  to  mour'n 
the  loss  of  our  brave  commander.     Through  dangers  he  has  often  led  us 
Again  we  are  called  to  follow  him  ;  but  the  circumstances  how  different ! 
There  we  followed  him  through  paths  forced  over  a  trackless  waste  by 
his  own  energy.     Now  death  is  our  pilot.     It  is  hard  to  realize  that  he 
IS  indeed  deaa.     He  was  one  of  those  with  whom  you  could  scarcely 
associate  the  thought.     But  the  tears  uf  a  sorrowing  and  grateful  people 
assure  us  that  it  is  too  true.     The  bright  star  we  have  all  so  often  see. 
just  flickering  on  tlie  verge  of  the  horizon  has  gone  down.     The  frai 
force  which  held  it  to  this  earth  is  broken.     That  soul  so  strong,  tha' 
body  so  weak,  too  much  in  antagonism  long  to  remain  togetlier,-alas ' 
we  shall  never  know  the  one  but  by  its  influence  upon  our  lives,  nor  set 
the  other  but  by  its  impress  upon  our  memories. 

But  I  will  not  anticipate  you.  Let  us  show  iu  some  way,  unitedly, 
our  appreciation  of  his  services  while  living,  and  our  sorrow  at  his  death! 

Mr.  George  Stephenson  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted: — 

Resolved,  That  we  have  received  with  pain  the  sad  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  our  late  honored  commander,  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  and  embrace 
this  the  earliest  opportunity  of  unitedly  exprt.sing  our  sorrow 

Kesalcat,  That  while  we  join  with  our  countrymen  and  the  citizens 
0    his  native  State  in  paying  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  who  had 
ali-ady  achieved  so  much  for  the  world's  good  and  the  nation's  glory - 
knowing  him  as  we  did  well  through  scenes  which  try  men's  nfjral 
nature,-uur   hearts    mourn    the   loss    of  those    high   qualities    which 
endeared  hnn  to  us  as  captain,  comrade,  and  friend.     Wo  found  him 
Wise  in  counsel,  clear  in  judgment,  bold  in  danger,  fearless  in  execution  ■ 
ever  alive  to  the  calls  of  humanity,  with  a  firm  faith  in  the  protecting 
care  of  an  overruling  Provideuce,  which  gave  him  mora!  power  to  rise 
above  physical  weakness,  filled  him  at  all  times  with  cheerful  hope,  and 
inibued  him  with  almost  superhuman  strength;  and  we  hold  his  name  ia 
gratetul  remembrance. 


360 


OBSEQUIES  OP 


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Resoived,  That  we  do  deeply  sympathize  with  his  bereaved  family, 
knowing  full  well  that,  great  as  is  the  loss  to  us  of  one  possessing  so 
many  manly  virtues,  greuter  still  must  it  be  to  those  who  held  to  him  a 
nearer  relation. 

Resolved,  That,  as  the  only  means  now  left  us  of  showing  our  respect 
for  the  memory  that  lingers  sadly  yet  brightly  with  us,  we  will,  in  a 
body,  follow  his  remains  to  their  last  resting-place,  in  such  position  as 
may  be  assigned  us  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  forward  to  the  family  of 
the  deceased  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  signed  by  all  the  members. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

I.  I.  Hayes,  President. 
Amos  Bonsall,  Se.cretari/. 


DEPUTATIONS  FROJI  OTHER  CITIES. 

A  committee  of  fourteen  members  from  both  branches  of  the  Common 
Council  of  the  city  of  New  York  arrived  in  Philadelphia  to  manifest 
the  sympathy  of  that  city  in  the  great  loss,  and  her  high  appreciation  of 
the  services  and  character  of  Dr.  Kane.  This  delicate  attention  on  the 
part  of  a  sister  city  was  beautifully  consistent  with  the  liberality  of  one 
of  her  distinguished  citizens,  to  whom  Dr.  Kane  was  indebted  for  much 
encouragement  and  liberal  contributions  of  means  to  undertake  and 
accomplish  his  great  Arctic  expedition.  These  gentlemen,  with  the 
committees  from  other  cities,  wore  formally  received  by  a  sub-committee, 
and  became  the  guests  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Such  was  the 
expression  of  respect  to  Dr.  Kane  from  all  parts  of  the  Union,  such  the 
proceedings  in  cities  through  which  the  remains  of  our  townsman 
passed,  such  the  voluntary,  the  spontaneous  expression  of  regard  for  the 
services  and  memory  of  the  good  and  great.  And  while  thes^c  honors  iu 
other  places  were,  to  the  passing  body,  thus  distinguished,  here  iu 
Philadelphia,  where  was  his  home  in  life,  and  where  was  prepared  his 
resting-place  in  death,  tht  proper  reception  of  the  honorable  deposit 
and  the  vigilant  guard  of  the  sacred  remains  ought  to  bo  followed  by 
Buch  public  (solemnities  as  would  enable  the  authorities  and  people 
to  express  their  sense  of  the  respect  paid  to  the  memory  of  their  towns- 
man elsewhere,  and  the  appreciation  of  the  honor  conferred  on  them 
by  the  heroic  services  of  the  deceased  in  the  cause  ot  science  and 
philanthropy. 


DR.  ELISIIA   KENT   KAN 


E. 


361 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  JOINT  COMMITTEE  RESUMED. 

ment3   and    the   preservation  of  order  in  all  the  public    prooeedin's 

st:i,     I    ^''''T^  "'"'^  '^"  ^^"-'^  appointn.ent'of  a  nLX'  X' 
hould  advise  with  them  in  the  formation  of  a  procession  and  ex^cu^e 
the  plan  adopted;  nnd  they  unanimously  selected  Peter  C.  Ellnmker 

^1';;!™"  ""■''"''  "^'^  ^"^^''""^^  '^  ^pp--^^  -^«  -d  as.istan; 

From  the  many  who  hastened  to  offer  their  services  as  undertakers, 
Soore  ^"'  '^"   ^"^^"  '^  '^''  P'"'^^  ^^'-  ^^'il'--  H. 

adopted  2l7r  '"  ""'r^- '""'  '"'  S""*'  ^^  ^«"«'''  ^'^^  ^---"ee 
adopted  the  following  resolutions :— 

AWW,  TLat  the  offer  of  the  service,  of  the  Artillery  Corp,  of  the 
Washington  Orajs,  by  Captain  Thomas  P.  Parry,  bo  accepted.    „  act  as 
a  guard  of  honor  on  the  «.,.!„„,  if  consistent  with  the  arr^agcneoU 
ot  the  naval  and  military  authorities. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Thomas,  it  was 

i?..«.W     That    if  consistent  with  the  orders  of  the  commanding 
officer,  the  Fn-st  City  Troop  of  Cavalry,  Captain  James,  be  invited   to 
c   as  a  body-guard  on  the  occasion  of  the  reception  of  the  remains  of 
the  late  Dr.  Kane,  and  escort  the  same  to  Independence  Hall 

It  was  further  AWm/,  That  the  con.manding  officer  of  the  First 
Division  l^^nnsylvania  Volunteers  be  requested  to  detail  a  brigade  to 
act  as  a  nnhtary  escort  on  the  occasion,  in   addition  to  the  companies 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  resolutions;  and  that  all  the  officers  of  th 
Division  not  on  duty  be  invited  to  attend  the  solemnities  in  uniform 

On  learning  that  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  had  reached  Baltimore 
.ho  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangement  despatched  a  delegation  from  theiJ 
number,   to   proceed   to    that   city   and   accompany    them    hither    the 
remains  to  be  still  in  the  care  of  the  Committee  of  Baltimore 

The  d„.,,tors  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Rail- 
road Company  promptly  nnd  generously  offered  every  facility  for  convey- 
mg  the  committee  to  IJaltimore  and  bringing  thence  the  body  of  Dr 
Kane  and  those  who  should  attend  upon  it;  and,  the  kind  offer  havinci 
been  thankfully  accepted,  the  directors  placed  two  cars  at  the  disposal 
of  to  committee  who  had  declined  accepting,  as  less  sure  and  e.podU 
tious,  the  alternative  of  a  "  special  train." 


i^mmmm^ 


362 


OBSEQUIES    OP 


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The  remains  of  Dr.  Kane  were  brought  to  the  depot  at  the  corner  of 
Broad  and  Prime  Streets,  at  five  o'clocli  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday, 
the  11th  of  March,  accompanied  by  some  members  of  the  mourning 
family,  and  under  the  care  of  a  committee  consisting  of  the  following- 
named  gentlemen  appointed  by  the  Maryland  Institute  of  Baltimore : — 
JOHN  DUKEHART,  JOHN  RODGERS. 

HUGH  A.  COOPER,  THOMAS  TRIMBLE, 

HON.  JOSHUA  VANSANT. 
The  Joint  Committee  proceeded  to  the  dep6t  to  meet  the  remains, 
and  they  caused  them  to  be  taken  thence  and  conveyed  to  the  Hall  of 
Independence,  in  the  following  order : — 

Officers  of  the  Police. 

First  and  Second  Divisions  of  Police. 

Washington  Grays,  Captain  Parry. 

Band. 

The  First  City  Troop,  Captain  James,  acting  as  Guard  of  Honor. 


o 

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City  Troop. 

Companions  of  Dr.  Kane  in  the  Arctic  Expedition. 

Committee  of  City  Councils. 

Committee  from  Maryland  Institute. 

Committee  from  Cincinnati. 

Committees  of  various  bodies  from  Wilmington  and  other  places. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  Meeting. 

The  Committee  from  the  Corn  Exchange. 

A  body  of  the  City  Police,  consisting  of  several  hundred  men,  detailed 

by  the  Mayor. 
The  body  of  Dr.  Kane,  thus   escorted,  was  placed  in  the  Hall  of 
Independence,  the  coffin  resting  on  a  pedestal  and  covered  with  a  pall, 
and  overlaid  with  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

The  committee  were  indebted  to  Mr.  Peter  Mackenzie  for  many 
splended  wreaths,  formed  of  the  choicest  flowers,  decorating  the  coverinf' 
of  the  remains. 

When  the  coffin  was  properly  disposed  in  the  hall,  Mr.  Dukohart, 


)t  at  the  corner  of 

rnoon  of  Monday, 

of  the  jDourning 

of  the  following- 

3  of  Baltimore  : — 

aeet  the  remains, 
!d  to  the  Hall  of 


lard  of  Honor. 


O 

M 

O 


edition. 


1  other  places. 

eting. 

;o. 

:ed  men,  detailed 

I  in  the  Hall  of 
'ered  with  a  pall, 

:enzio   for   many 
ting  the  coverinj; 


,  Mr.  Dukohart, 


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DR.   ELISIIA    KENT   KANE. 


________  363 

the  chairman  of  the  delo,at;;;r;i^^      the  remains  from  Balti- 

Mr  Chaikman  :-I.  behalf  of  the  eitizens  of  Baltimore,  I  am 
now  to  dehvor  to  your  ehargo  the  remains  of  our  deceased  feUoT 
men.ber    Elisha  Kent  Kane.     I  eomn.it   to  you   his   ron      s         hi" 

whnT  ,       ?''^  ""^  ^'  ^'•"'^  ^^""^'^  ^'^^  Mecca  of  all  those 

governmenr^'^'-'^^^'  '''  '''''  ''''''  '"''  "^'^^  ^^  -°-''"*^<i  ^-  -If! 
I  surrender  to  you,  in  his  native  eity,  the  remains  of  our  late  brother 
I jybe  pernnttcd  to  say  it  is  with  deep  regret,  and  that  you  cannot 
exclusively  eall  him  yours.     We  felt,  whilst  he  was  with  us^whi   t  h 

us  to  do.     Although  this  is  his  native  city  and  his  native  State  his 

ame.  extends  throughout  the  civilized  world'    In  the  icy  roln    wW 

he  sacn  ced  himself  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  even  the  ^ild  EsJ- 

Time  will  never  obliterate  the  name  of  one  who  administered  so  much 
to  their  comfort  while  himself  suffering  so  much  for  the  cause  f 
humanity  and  science.  Permit  me  now,  gentlemen,  on  behalf  of  th 
city  and  of  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  in  this  hall  eonLcrated  to  liber 
to  commit  to  your  charge  the  remains  of  Eli«ha  Kent  Kane,  wh  sacri- 
ficed his  life  in  the  cause  of  humanity. 

r.!!-'  ^T"^^"'  «f  f-™au  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
received  the  sacred  deposit  with  the  following  remarks  :^ 

In  the  name  of  the  corporation  and  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  I  receive 

oTanTr^f  ''"'  P""'°"  """^•^^'  '^"^  '^  *h----  I  thank 
you  and  those  whom  you  represent  for  the  honors  you  have  conferred 

up  n  one  who  has  so  honored  his  native  eity.     While  we  know  that  it 

IL^r  ^'"7''^r  *^^PP^-•^^«  --"--  that  you  have  distin- 
guished yourselves  by  munifieent  consideration  of  the  great  departed 

^rth  f  'f  ^"'  '"^  ''-''  '''''  ^"^  '^'y  enjoys  a  LectedC; 
from  the  fame  of  our  townsman,  we  must  assume  the  obligations  which 
your  generous  attentions  create. 

achieved  early  immortality;  and  he  returns  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  alter- 


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OBSEQUIES   OF 


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native  of  the  Spartan  mother's  direction  to  her  son, — "  if  not  behind,  at 
least  vpon,  his  shield."  Nay,  more :  a  Christian  mother's  cares  are 
rewarded,  and  her  hopes  more  tlian  realized,  in  the  life  of  a  son  devoted 
to  science  and  philanthropy,  and  in  that  death  whose  hopes  took  hold  on 
eternity. 

Renewing  to  you  the  assurance  of  profound  gratitude  for  the  honors 
conferred  upon  these  remains  in  jour  city  and  augmented  by  your 
presence  here,  this  committee  receive  the  sacred  trust,  and  will  watch 
over  the  body  until  it  reaches  its  final  resting-place  in  the  grave. 

Mr.  Chandler  then  placed  the  remains  under  the  care  of  the  company 
of  Washington  Grays,  who  had  volunteered  to  act  as  a  guard  of  honor, 
and,  addressing  Captain  Parry,  their  commander,  he  said  : — 

Captain  Parry,  on  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  I  now 
announce  to  you  that  they  have  determined  to  place  under  your  guard 
the  remains  of  one  so  cherished  by  us  all  as  a  Philadelphian  and  a  phi- 
lanthropist. We  trust  that  you  will  exercise  a  strict  guardianship 
during  the  night,  and  restore  to  the  committee  the  sacred  trust  which 
has  been  confided  to  your  charge. 

To  which  Captain  Parry  replied  : — 

I  assure  you,  Mr.  Chairman,  on  behalf  of  the  corps  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  command,  and  which  you  have  selected  for  the  guardianship 
)f  the  remains  of  the  lamented  Dr.  Kane,  that  we  are  proud  to  accept 
/our  commission ;  and  I  need  not  say,  on  my  own  part,  that  I  reply  to 
you  with  all  the  emotion  which  may  become  a  man.  AVe  will  vigilantly 
guard  the  remains  during  the  night,  and  return  them  to  you  in  the 
morning  as  pure  and  unsullied  as  when  we  received  them. 

On  Wednesday  evening  and  on  Thursday  morning  many  hundred 
citizens  were  admitted  to  the  Hall  of  Independence.  At  ten  o'clock 
Captain  Purry  and  his  company  were  relieved  from  further  duties  as  a 
guard  of  honor.  Captain  Parry,  in  a  few  appropriate  remarks,  resigned 
his  charge,  and  received  from  Mr.  Cuyler  the  thanks  of  the  committee 
for  the  services  which  he  and  his  corps  had  rendered.  A  splendid 
wreath  of  costly  flowers  was  presented  to  the  committee,  accompanied  by 
the  subjoined  note : — 

"TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  DR.  E.  K.  KANE." 
FROM  TWO  LADIES. 


DR.    ELISHA  KENT  KANE. 


_________  365 

These  were  deposited  on  the  coffin  with  the  rich  offerin'r  of  Mr. 
Mackenzie  befo'-g  noticed.  ° 

At  noon  precisely,  the  military,  under  Brir^adier-General  George 
Cadwallader,  having  been  formed  on  Walnut  Street,  Chicf-3Iarshal 
Ellmaker  proceeded,  with  his  aids  and  assistant  marshals,  to  form  the 
funeral  procession  according  to  the  programme  which  had  been  adopted 
by  the  Cominittee  of  Arrangements. 

The  coffin  was  borne,  by  a  detachment  of  seamen  of  the  United  States 
Navy,  from  the  Hall  of  Independence  down  the  centre-walk  of  Inde- 
pendence Square  to  Walnut  Street,  where  it  was  received  with  appro- 
priate honors  by  the  military,  and  was  then  placed  upon  the  funeral  car 
prepared  expressly  for  the  occasion,  twelve  feet  in  length  and  five  in 
breadth,  set  on  low  wheels  concealed  by  the  rich  drapery  suspended 
from  the  side  of  the  car.  On  the  four  corners  were  upright  spears  with 
golden  heads,  and  around  these  were  entwined  the  American,  the  British 
the  Spanish,  and  the  Danish  flags,  craped.  Above  the  centro  of  the  car 
was  a  dome  of  black  cloth  with  white  stripes,  and  from  the  canopy 
extended  bands  attached  to  the  top  of  the  spears  at  the  four  corners. 

The  dome  was  ornamented  with  white  stars,  and  trimmed  with  white 
cord.  The  inside  of  the  canopy  was  lined  with  white  silk.  Th"  coffin 
being  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  car,  the  American  flag  was  thrown 
around  it,  and  the  garlands  of  flowers  and  the  sword  of  the  deceased 
were  placed  gracefully  on  the  bier.  The  car  was  drawn  by  six  black 
horseS;  each  being  attended  by  a  groom  appropriately  attired. 

FIRST  DIVISION. 

This  division  was  heaaed  by  a  strong  body  of  police  detailed  by  the 
Mayor  to  secure  an  unobstructed  path  to  the  cortc^ge.     The  body  was 
headed  by  the  high-constables  of  the  city,  and,  although  the  route  of 
procession,  covering  a  large  extent  of  the  central  portion  of  the  city, 
was  densely  packed  with  spectators,  universal   order   prevailed.     The 
police  were  also  distributed  along  the  line  of  the  procession. 
_    The  military  escort,  consisting  of  the  First  Brigade,  made  an  exceed- 
ingly creditable  and  imposing  display.     The  Brigade  comprised  the  fol- 
lowing  companies  :-Squadron  Cavalry,  T.  C.  James;  First  City  Troop, 
Captain  James;  First  City  Cavalry,  Captain  Baker;  Artillery  Battalion. 
Lieutenant-Colonel   Biles,  commandant;    Washington   Grays,  Captain 
Parry;  Philadelphia  Grays,  Captain  Rush;  Cadwallader  Grays,  Captain 
Breece ;  National  Artillery,  Captain  Murphy. 

First  Regiment  Infantry,  Colonel  Wm.  D.  Lewis,  Jr.,  commandant: 


'1! 


366 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


s-:^ 


mi 
< 

&0l 


0^ 


2 

T 

a 


I 


State  Fcncibles,  Captaia  Pago;  Washington  Blues,  Captain  Gosline  • 
National  Guards,  Captain  Lyle;  Independent  Grays,  Captain  Braceland- 
^dependent  Guards,  Captain  Cromley;  Washington  Guards,  Captain 
Wagaer. 

SECOND  DIVISION 

Was  preceded  by  William  H.  Moore,  undertaker.     Then  followed 
the  funeral  car  and  procession,  in  the  following  order  :— 

PALL-BEARERS. 


I 

w  •- 

ll 

c 

§ 


Governor  Pollock, 
Hon.  Horace  Binney, 
Commodore  Stewart, 
Major  C.  J.  Biddle, 
Bishop  Potter, 
Chief-Justice  Lewis, 
Doctor  Dunglison, 
J.  A..  Brown,  Esq., 


f4 

CO 


PALL-BEARERS. 

Samuel  Gr^nt,  Esq., 
Henry  Grinnell,  Esq., 
Commodore  Read, 
Doctor  Dlllard,  U.S.A., 
Bev.H.A  Bcardraan,D.D., 
Hugh  L.  Hodge,  3I.D., 
Hon.  Wm.  B.  Heed. 


Erg 


I 


ft. 


Comrades  of  the  Deceased  in  the  Arctic  Expedition. 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 
Committee  of  the  Authorities  and  Citizens  of  Baltimore. 
Committee  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York. 
Reverend  Clergy  of  the  City. 
Mayor  and  Recorder. 
Heads  of  the  seveml  Departments. 
Officers  of  Councils. 
President  of  Select  ind  Common  Councils. 
Select  Council. 
Common  Council. 
Lx-Members  of  Select  and  Common  Councils. 
Aldermen  of  the  City, 
Deputies  and  Clerks  of  tlie  several  Departments  of  the  City. 
Repntersof  the  Press. 
Officei-8  of  the  State  Governui-nt. 
The  Societies  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  and  Albion. 
The  Hibernian  Society,  the  St.  Andrew's  and  Scots  Thistle  Societies 
Officor.9  of  the  UnHed  States  .Vrmy,  Navy,  and  Marino  Corps. 
Represontativea  of  Fore^sn  Governments  and  other  Distinguished 

Strangers. 

Judges  and  Officers  of  the  United  States  and  other  Courts. 

Officers  and  membera  of  the  Ameriean  Philosophical  Society. 


.  ^^*/    •' 


DR.  ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


367 


Captain  Gosline; 

Japtaia  Braceland; 

I  Guards,  Captain 

.     Then  followed 

lRERS. 

M 

09 

Esq., 

I,  Esq., 

'ad. 

(5     o 

U.S.A., 
rdinan,  D.D., 
fe,  M.D., 

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9 

Eeed. 

1 

edition. 

Baltimore. 

'  New  York. 

Officers  and  Members  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences. 
Wardens  of  the  Port. 
The  remainder  of  the  division  paraded  in  the  following  order  :- 

THIRD  DIVISION. 

Marshal  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania 
Ills  Deputies  and  As.sis^lnts.  ' 

^  „  Unitod  States  District  Attorney. 

Co.ector,  Naval  Officer,  and  Surveyor  of  the  Port,  Post-Master,  and 
other  Officers  of  the  United  States  Government. 
Director  and  Treasurer,  Officers,  and  Workmen  of  the  United  States  Mint 
n-  u  ot.    .         ^^«'"b«^«  «nd  Ex-Members  of  Congress. 
H,gh-Shenff  of  the  City  and  County,  and  other  City  and  County  Officers. 

Physicians. 

Members  of  the  Bar. 

Officers  and  Members  of  the  Corn  Exchange. 

Officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Militia  not  on  duty. 

FOURTH  DIVISION. 

Medical  Faculty  and  Students  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Medical  lacult,,  the  Graduating  Class,  and  the  Students,  of  tlfe  Jeffer.o« 

Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 

Officers  and  Students  of  other  Medical  Societies. 

Philadelphia  County  iMedical  Society. 

Officers  and  Under-Graduates  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

1  resident.  Directors,  and  Officers  of  Girard  Colle-e. 

Principal  and  Faculty  of  the  High  School. 

The  3Iusical  Fund  Society. 

Controllers  of  the  I'ublic  Schools. 

FIFTH  DIVISION. 

The  Fire  Department. 
Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows. 

Young  Men's  American  Club. 

American  Protestant  Association. 

Ancient  Order  of  Druiia. 

SIXTH  DIVISION.  * 


Citizens. 
Police. 


*aj 


3G8 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


The  procosfjion,  which  inovod  up  Wahuit  Street  to  Sevcnteenih  Street, 
up  Seventeenth  to  Arch,  down  Arch  to  Seventh  Street,  terminated  at 
the  Second^Presbytcrian  Cimrch,  North  Seventh  Street;  and,  as  it  was 
impossible  for  any  considerable  proportion  of  the  procession  to  obtain 
admittance  to  the  church,  the  public  demonstration  was  considered  as 
terminating  on  the  arrival  at  this  place.  The  remains  were  then  taken 
from  the  hoarse  and  conveyed,  through  the  south  gate  of  the  enclosure, 
to  the  elevation  in  front  of  the  church,  and,  while  they  lay  ia  that 
position  with  the  pall-bearers  formed  in  a  semicircle  in  the  rear,  the 
whole  procession  passed,  uncovered,  down  Seventh  Street,  in  view  of  the 
coffin.  Few  scenes  have  ever  been  presented  of  more  solemn  grandeur. 
The  body  then  was  conveyed  into  the  church,  accompanied  on  each 
side  by  the  pall-bearers,  and  followed  by  the  companions  of  Dr.  Kane  in 
the  Arctic  Expedition,  the  Committee  of  Arrangement,  the  Councils  of 
the  city,  the  Committees  from  other  cities,  the  officers  of  the  navy,  and 
other  citizens. 


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,.^.A 

The  exercises  iu   the  church   commenced  with   the   singin"  of  an 
anthoui  from  Mozart : — "  I  Heard  a  Voice  from  Heaven." 

Then  came  the  following  beautiful  and  impressive  invocation,  delivered 
by  the  llev.  Charles  Wadsworth,  D.l).  :— 

"Holy,  lioly,  holy.  Lord  God  Almighty.  The  sinless  and  adoring 
Bcraphims  veil  (heir  faces  and  cry.  Holy  !  We  are  worms  of  tlic  dust, 
sinful,  mi.serablo,  unworthy,  and  to  us  thou  art  ever  terrible  iu  the 
glory  of  thy  lioline.s.s,  thou  who  hast  thy  way  iu  the  whirlwind,  and 
around  whoso  feet  arc  thick  clouds  and  darkness.  And  now,  more  than 
is  thy  wont,  thou  seemest  terrible  to  us  in  thy  forthgoings  in  judg- 
ment. "We  lift  the  eye,  and  behold  a  throne  set  in  the  heavens,  and 
out  of  it  proceed  liglitiiings,  and  thundorings,  and  voices,  and  before  it 
the  pestilence  and  burning  coals  at  its  feet,  and  the  smile  seems  gone 
from  thine  awful  face;  and  thou  seemest  wroth  with  us,  and  thou  art 
terrible  in  thine  anger.  Death,  death,  has  cast  its  shadow  on  us;  and 
this  tliy  glorious  Temple,  this  Ikdnl  where  the  Heavenly  ladder  lifts, 
this  altar-side  where  the  Shokinah  dwells,  this  bles.sed  Father's  house, 
where  we  have  met  thy  Sabbath  smiles,— alas  I  it  is  darkened  iiow  into  a 
house  of  mourning.  AVe  are  smitten,  we  are  affiict('d,--the  spirit 
wounded,  the  heart  broken.  One  we  loved,— one  wo  lionored,— one,  it 
may  be*  too  dear  to  our  afiec-tion.^,     oac  wc  parted  with  iu  ivud  hvm, — 


DR.   ELISnA   KENT   KANE. 


339 

has  con.o  again  to  our  sanctunry,  the  enclosed,  tl.o  heart  pulseless  • 
and  wc  s  and  b,  thine  holy  altar  stricken,  terrified,  in  V^M 
presence  of  God  and  death.  '  "' 

We  think  of  theo,  and  arc  afraid.  0  thou  Ahnighty!  Thy  ways 
a  0  fear  „1.  We  arc  on  the  water,  and  the  night  is  dl/and  th'o  p 
b  k  ..s  ten.po.st-tu>sed,  and  even  the  forn.  of  the  Redeen.er.  walkin^'tho 
blIows,seen.s  phantom-like  and  dreadful,  as  it  were  a  Spirit  and  wo 
s  an  haek  fearful  and  trembling  fr.n  thine  awful  path,  t Lu'g  d  I 
chase  ,ng;  and  yet,  into  thy  presence,  0  our  God,  we  come  for 
mfort.ng.     Am.d  all  thy  stern  and  terrible  n.anifestJtions,  wHn  w 

pe.t,  ence  and    he  burning  coals  at  thy  feet,  thou  art  still  our  Fatl 
our    heaveni,    Father,-Fathor   pitiful  of  thy  children,-tre    b  ui  ei 
-d  not  brealung  it,  the  smoking  flax  not  quenching  it      'Z  -d"  ^ 

a :: ::;  t ;  ' ''''''"'-'' '-'''-''-'  -^  ^^-^  ^«  - '--  f: 

can  t  ,„t  t  d.c  away,  no  storm  thou  canst  not  still,  no  Marah  in  the 
wilderness  thou  canst  not  n.ake  sweet  as  the  living  water 

Wo  luue  nowhere  else  to  go.  The  world  cannot  con.fort  us.  The 
glory  of  man  seen.s  a  fading  flower,  and  the  voices  of  earth  seem 
mou.,f,     „  ,  ,  ,,,,,„^^  ^,,^^  ^^,^^^,^      ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  con,fort;  an    w^ 

on  e    0  thee  .„  trustful  love  and  faith.     We  come  to  sit  at  thy  feJt 

look  up  .nto  thy  face,  to  cast  ourselves,  stricken  and  sorr.wfu'  i  to 

%  gentle  anns      lather,  our  Father,  look  upon  us  n.ereifully.     Th  u 

nowest  where  the  thorn  pierces.     Oh,  lift  the  load  fron.  the  wound  d 
bcart;  uh,  bind  up  tenderly  the  wounded  spirit 

0    t  ou    Fternal   One,  gently,   tende.l,,    i.vingly.      Speak    the  word 
winch  man   cannot  utter,--the  words  of  eternal   life.     Tell  us  of  the 

hough  tins  dear  eye  .s  shrouded,  this  dear  heart  cold  in  death,  ye 
he  k. loved  sp.nt    hat  n.ade  the  e^e  to  sparkle  and  the  heart  to  b  und 
hv  s  st.II,  ,n.sj;n!     Thanks,  thanks,  for  the  hopes  so  glorious,  so 
« 1    of  eternal  hfo,  that  cluster  around  this  shrouded'dust.-hoprjh" 
ou    be  oved  one  .s  even  now  n.nre  than  conqueror  through  that  Iledeemer 
who    dcd    for   h.m.     Oh,    give    fuller   power    to    our   faith.     Father, 
heavenly  FaJjer,   utter  with   thy  gWious   voice   thine   own   gloriou; 
oracles      Speak  to  us  of  the  resurrection  and  the  life.     Tell  us  of  the 
gates  of  pearl,  and  the  trees  of  life  in  the  n.idst  of  the  carder  -•  oP  the 
paim»  and  white  robes,  and  songs  of  victory;  o."  the  thrones  of  power, 


1 


5N- 


370 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


and  the  diadems  of  splend,  - :  of  the  places  prepared  in  the  house  of 
many  mansions ;  ''  and  the  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory."  Father,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  are  listening  for  thy  hlessed 
voice.  Oh,  speak  to  us !  Speak  to  us  gently,  joyfully,  till  faith 
grows  strong  in  our  stricken  spirits;  so  that,  time  seeming  the  vapor 
and  eternity  the  reality,  we  may  look  not  down  upon  this  sleeping  dust, 
saying  farewell,  but  rather  upward  to  the  risen  spirit  in  the  firmament, 
saying,  A.11  hail,  redeemed  one.  Oh,  comfort  us,  thou  heavenly  Com- 
forter, thou  merciful  Savior,  in  whom  "  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth 
shall  never  die."  Thou  Lamb  of  God,  who  takcst  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  fill  our  stricken  hearts  with  thine  own  glorious  grace,  so  that  we 
may  go  forth  as  Mary,  to  find  the  grave  of  our  beloved  lustrous  with  the 
vision  of  angel,  and  write  over  it  no  sadder  words  than  these  : — "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord  !"  whilst  our  song  of  triumphant  faith, 
begun  here  in  tears,  shall  go  on  in  eternity  : — "  Unto  Ilim  who  loved  us, 
and  washed  us  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests 
unto  God  and  his  Father,"  be  glory  and  honor  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 


The  same  divine  also  read  the  selection — 

"  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life ;  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord,"  &c. 

The  hymn  "  Hark  to  the  Solemn  Bell"  was  then  sung  by  the  choir. 


it 


oi, 
Q 

2! 


REV.  CHARLES  W.  SHIELDS, 

Paxtor  o/tJie  Church,  then  (delivered  the  folhicing  Funeral  Discourse, 

It  is  a  noble  instinct  which  prompts  us  to  honor  the  dead.  Humanity 
joins  with  religion  in  suppressing  all  earthly  distinctions  and  passions  at 
the  mouth  of  the  tomb.  The  mansion  may  be  envied,  the  hovel  may  be 
scorned  ;  but  the  grave  is  alike  revered,  whether  it  be  adorned  with 
sculptured  marble  or  decked  with  a  simple  flower. 

It  would  seem  that  in  the  mortal  remains  of  a  fellow-creature  we 
respect  a  fate  that  we  know  must  soon  bo  our  own,  and,  conscious  of  the 
worth  of  a  soul,  would  do  homage  even  to  the  ruined  temple  in  which 
it  was  enshrined. 

But  when  the  object  of  such  feelings  concentrates  in  himself  the  best 
traits  of  our  nature,  and   has  been   conducted  by  Providence  to  an 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


371 

eminence  from  which  he  illustrates  them  in  the  view  of  multitudes,  the 
ordinary  cold  respect  warms  to  admiration  and  melts  into  love  We 
behold  the  image  of  our  common  humanity  reflected  and  mao-nified  in 
hmi  as  a  cherished  ideal.  Death,  which  makes  sacred  every  thin.,  it 
ouches,  throws  a  mild  halo  around  his  memory,  and  we  hasten  to  bHu. 
to  h,s  grave-all  that  we  now  have  to  givc-the  poor  tribute  of  oZ 
praises  and  tears. 

We  are  assembled,  my  friends,  to  perform  such  comely  thouo-h  .ad 
duties  ,n  honor  of  a  man  who,  within  the  short  lifetime  of  thirty-five 
years,  under  the  combined  impulses  of  humanity  and  science,  has 
traversed  nearly  the  whole  of  the  planet  in  its  most  inaccessible  pllces : 
has  gathered  here  and  there  a  laurel  from  every  walk  of  physical  research 
in  which  he  strayed;  has  gone  into  the  thick  of  perilous  adventure 
abstracting  ai  the  spiritof  philosophy,  yet  seeing  and  loving  in  the  spirij 
of  poesy;  has  returned  to  invest  the  very  story  of  his  escape  with  the 
charn.s  ot  literature  and  art;  and,  dying  at  length  in  the  morning  of  his 
fame  is  now  amented,  with  nungled  affection  and  pride,  by  his  country 
and  the  world.  "^ 

Death  discloses  the  human  estimate  of  character.  That  mournful 
pageant  which  for  days  past  has  been  wending  its  way  hither,  acros<  the 
solemn  main,  a  ong  our  mighty  rivers,  through  cities  clad  in  habiliments 
of  gnef,  with  the  learned,  the  noble,  and  the  good  minglin.  in  its  train 
IS  but  the  honest  tribute  of  hearts  that  could  have  no' motives  bui 
respect  and  love.  To  us  belongs  the  sad  privilege  of  at  length  elosin. 
be  national  obsequies  in  his  native  city  and  at  the  grave  of  his  kindred' 
iMtt.ngly  we  have  suffered  his  honored  remains  to  repose  a  few  pensive 
hours  at  the  shrine  where  patriotism  gathers  its  fairest  menmries  and 
choicest  honors.  Now,  at  last,  we  bear  th.m-tbankful  to  the  Provi- 
dence by  winch  they  have  been  preserved  from  mishap  and  peril-to 
the  sacred  altar  at  which  he  was  reared. 

I  do  not  forget,  my  friends,  the  severer  solemnities  of  the  place  and 
presence.  I  remind  you  of  their  claim.  Dow  empty  the  applause  of 
iiiortals  as  vaunted  in  the  ear  of  Heaven  !  How  idle  the  distinction, 
among  creatures  involved  in  a  common  insi.n.ificance  by  death  and  sin  ! 
A  hat  a  mockery  the  liimsy  shows  with  which  we  cover  up  the  realities 
of  judgment  and  et-M-nity  1  The  thought  may  well  temper  the  pride  of 
our  gnef;  yet  it  ncod  not  stanch  its  flow.  iNo  !  I  should  but  feel  that 
the  goodness  of  :  ,.  God  by  whose  munificent  hand  his  creature  wh 
endowed  had  been  wronged,  did  we  not  pause  to  reflect  a  while  upon  hi, 
virtues  and  drop  some  mai.ly  and  (^hristian  f^ars  over  his  early  grave 


11 


m' 


Iff 


372 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


Elisha  Kent  Kane — a  name  now  to  be  pronounced  in  the  simple 
dignity  of  history — was  bred  in  the  lap  of  science  and  trained  in  the 
school  of  peril,  that  he  might  consecrate  himself  to  a  philanthropic 
purpose  to  which  so  young  he  has  fallen  a  martyr.  The  story  of  his 
life  is  already  a  fireside  tale.  Multitudes,  in  -idmiring  fancy,  have 
retraced  his  footprints.  Now,  that  that  brief  career  is  closed  in  death, 
we  recur  to  it  with  a  mournful  fondness,  from  the  daring  exploits  which 
formed  tbe  pastime  of  his  youth,  to  the  graver  tapks  to  '^hich  he 
brought  his  developed  manhood.  Though  born  to  ease  and  elegance, 
when  but  a  young  student,  used  to  academic  tastes  and  honors,  we  see 
him  breaking  away  from  the  refinements  of  life  into  the  rough  paths  of 
privation  and  danger.  Through  distant  and  varied  regions  we  follow 
him  in  his,  pursuit  of  scientific  discovery  and  adventure.  On  the 
borders  of  China — within  the  unexplored  depths  of  the  crater  of  Luzon 
—in  India  and  Ceylon— in  the  islands  of  the  Pacific— by  the  sources 
of  the  Nile — amid  th„  frowning  sphinxes  of  Egypt  and  the  classic 
ruins  of  Greece— along  the  fevered  coast  of  Africa — on  the  embattled 
plains  of  Mexico — we  behold  him  everywhere  blending  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  scholar  with  the  daring  of  the  soldier  and  the  research  of  the 
man  of  science. 

Yet  these  were  but  the  preparatory  trials  through  which  Providence 
was  leading  him  to  an  object  worthy  his  matured  powers  and  noblest 
aims.  Suddenly  he  becomes  a  centre  of  universal  interest.  With  the 
prayers  and  hopes  of  his  country  following  after  him,  he  disappears 
from  the  abodes  of  men,  on  a  pilgrimage  of  patience  and  love,  into  the  icy 
solitudes  of  the  North.  Within  the  shadow  of  two  sunless  winters  his 
fate  is  wrapt  from  our  view.  At  length,  like  one  come  back  from 
another  world,  he  returns  to  thrill  us  with  the  marvels  of  his  escape, 
and  transport  us,  by  his  graphic  pen,  into  scenes  we  scarcely  realize  as 
belonging  to  the  earth  we  inhabit.  All  classes  are  penetrated  and 
touched  by  the  story  so  simply,  so  modestly,  so  eloquently  told.  The 
nation  takes  him  to  its  heart  with  patriotic  pride.  In  hopeful  fancy,  a 
still  brighter  career  is  pictured  before  him, — when,  alas  !  the  vision, 
while  yet  it  dazzles,  dissolves  in  tears.  Wo  awake  to  the  sense  of  a  loss 
which  no  cottemporary,  at  his  age,  could  occasion. 

Of  that  loss  let  us  not  here  attempt  too  studious  an  estimate.  Thei^e 
sad  solemnities  may  simply  point  us  to  the  more  moral  qualities  and 
actions  in  view  of  which  every  bereavement  most  deeply  afibcts  us. 

As  a  votary  of  science,  he  will  indeed  receive  fitting  tributes.  There 
will  not  be  wanting  ihoso  who  shall  do  justice  to  that  ardent  thirst  fur 


DR.   ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


373 


truth  which  in  him  amounted  to  one  of  the  controlling  passions,  to 
that  intellect  so  severe  in  induction  yet  sagacious  in  conjecture,  and  to 
those  contributions,  so  various  and  valuable,  to  the  existing  stock  of 
human  knowledge.  But  his  memory  will  not  be  cherished  alone  in 
philosophic  minds.  Ilis  is  not  a  name  to  be  honored  only  within  the 
privileged  circles  of  the  learned.  There  is  for  him  another  laurel, 
greener  even  than  thaf  hich  Science  wreaths  for  her  most  gifted  sons. 
He  IS  endeared  to  the  popular  heart  as  its  chosen  ideal  of  the  finest 
sentiment  that  adorns  our  earthly  nature. 

Philanthropy,  considered  as  among  things  which  are  lovely  and  of 
good  report,  is  the  flower  of  human  virtue.  Of  all  the  passions  that 
have  their  root  in  the  soil  of  this  present  life  there  is  none  which, 
when  elevated  into  a  conscious  duty,  is  so  disinterested  and  pure.  In 
the  domestic  affections  there  is  something  of  meve  blind  instinct;  iu 
friendship  there  is  the  limit  of  congeniality;  in  patriotism  there  are 
the  restrictions  of  local  attachment  and  national  antipathy;  but  in  that 
love  of  race  which  seeks  its  object  in  man  as  man,  of  whatever  kindred, 
creed,  or  clime,  earthly  morality  appears  divested  of  the  last  dross  of 
selfishness,  and  challenges  our  highest  admiration  and  praise. 

Providence,  who  governs  the  world  by  ideas,  selects  the  fit  occasions 
and  men  for  their  illustration.  In  an  age  when  philanthropic  senti- 
ments,  through  the  extension  of  Christianity  and  civilization,  are  on  the 
increase,  a  fit  occasion  for  their  display  is  offered  in  the  peril  of  a  bold 
explorer,  for  whose  rescue  a  cry  of  anguished  affection  rings  in  the  ears 
of  the  nations ;  and  the  man  found  adequate  to  that  occasion  is  he  whose 
death  we  mourn. 

K  there  was  every  thing  congruous  in  the  scene  of  the  achievement,— 
laid,  as  it  was,  in  those  distant  regions  where  the  lines  of  geography 
converge  beyond  all  the  local  distinctions  that  divide  and  separate  man 
irom  his  fellow,  and  among  rigors  of  cold  and  darkness,  and  disease  and 
famine,  that  would  task  to  their  utmost  the  powers  of  human  endurance 
—not  less  suited  was  the  actor  who  was  to  enter  upon  that  scene  and 
eniich  the  world  with  such  a  lesson  of  heroic  beneficence.     Himself  of 
a  country  estranged  from  that  of  the  imperilled  explorers,  the  simple 
act  of  assuming  the  task  of  their  rescue  was  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the 
sentiment  of  national  amity ;  while,  as  his  warrant  for  undertaking  it, 
he  seemed  lacking  in  no  single  qualification.     To  a  scientific  education 
and  che  experience  of  a  cosmopolite  he  joined  an  assemblage  of  moral 
qualities  so  rich  in  their  separate  excellence,  and  so  rare  in  their  combi- 


1 


nation,  that  it  is  diffieuk  to  circct  tl 


leir  analysis. 


374 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


at 


2 

CC 

ui 

X 
K 

o; 

25 


■f ' 

^Kl^ 

HW'^" 

^■1. 

Conspicuous  among  them  was  that  elementary  virtue  in  every  philan- 
thropic mission, — an  exalted  yet  minute  benevolence.  It  was  the  crown- 
ing charm  of  his  character,  and  a  controlling  motive  in  his  perilous  enter- 
prise. Other  promptings  indeed  there  were,  neither  suppressed,  nor  in 
themselves  to  be  depreciated.  That  passion  for  adventure,  that  love  of 
science,  that  generous  ambition,  which  stimulated  his  youthful  exploits, 
appear  now  under  the  check  and  guidance  of  a  still  nobler  impulse.  It 
is  his  sympathy  with  the  lost  and  suffering,  and  the  duteous  conviction 
that  it  may  lie  in  his  power  to  liberate  them  from  their  icy  dungeon, 
which  thrill  his  heart  and  nerve  him  to  his  hardy  task.  In  his  avowed 
aim,  the  interests  of  geography  were  to  be  subordinate  to  the  claims  of 
humanity.  And  neither  the  entreaties  of  affection,  nor  the  imperilling 
of  a  fame  which  to  a  less  modest  spirit  would  have  seemed  too  precious 
to  hazard,  could  swerve  him  from  the  generous  purpose. 

And  yet  this  was  not  a  benevolence  which  could  exhaust  itself  in  any 
mere  dazzling,  visionary  project.  It  was  as  practical  as  it  was  compre- 
hensive. It  could  descend  to  all  the  minutiae  of  personal  kindness  and 
gracefully  disguise  itself  even  in  the  most  menial  offices.  When  defeated 
in  its  great  object,  and  forced  to  resign  the  proud  hope  of  a  philanthro- 
pist, it  turns  to  lavish  itself  on  his  suffering  comrades,  whom  he  leads 
almost  to  forget  the  commander  in  the  friend.  With  unselfish  assiduity 
and  cheerful  patience,  he  devotes  himself  as  a  nurse  and  counsellor  to 
relieve  their  wants  and  buoy  them  up  under  the  most  appalling  misfor- 
tunes, and,  in  those  still  darker  seasons  when  the  expedition  is 
threatened  with  disorganization,  conquers  them  not  less  by  kindness 
than  by  address.  Docs  a  party  withdraw  from  him  under  opposite 
counsels?  they  are  assured,  in  the  event  of  their  return,  of  "a  brother's 
welcome."  Are  tidings  brought  him  that  a  portion  of  the  little  band  are 
forced  to  halt,  he  knows  not  where,  in  the  snowy  desert  ?  he  is  off  through 
the  midniglit  cold  for  their  rescue,  and  finds  his  reward  in  the  touching 
assurance,  "  They  knew  that  he  would  come."  In  sickness  he  tends 
them  like  a  brother,  and  at  death  drops  a  tear  of  manly  sensibility  on 
their  graves.  Even  the  wretched  savages,  who  might  be  supposed  to 
have  forfeited  the  claim,  share  in  his  kindly  attentions ;  and  it  is  with 
something  of  genuine  human  feeling  that  he  parts  from  them  at  last,  as 
''children  of  the  same  Creator." 

In  a  cause  of  humanity  like  that  which  he  had  espoused,  we  feel  that 
something  more  was  needed  than  the  diffuse  and  aimless  philanthropy 
which  is  loud  in  panegyric  upon  human  nature,  while  it  disdains  the 
details  of  practical  well-dulug ;  and,  when  iu  couuectiou  with  such  high, 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


375 


benevolent  purpose  we  find  a  native  goodness  of  heart  disclosing  such 
constant  self-sacrifice,  we  are  at  no  loss  to  recognise  his  vocation." 

Then,  as  the  fitting  support  of  this  noble  quality,  there  was  also  the 
stauncher,  but  not  less  requisite  virtue,  of  an  indomitable  energy.  It 
was  the  iron  column  around  whuse  capital  that  delicate  lily-work  was 
woven.  His  was  not  a  benevolence  which  must  waste  itself  in  mere 
sentiment,  for  want  of  a  power  of  endurance  adequate  to  support  it  through 
hardship  and  peril.  In  that  slight  physical  frame,  suogestive  only  of 
refined  culture  and  intellectual  grace,  there  dwelt  a  sturdy  force  of  will 
which  no  combination  of  material  terrors  seemed  to  appall,  and,  by  a  sort 
of  magnetic  impulse,  subjected  all  inferior  spirits  to  its  control.  It  was 
the  calm  power  of  reason  and  duty  asserting  their  superiority  over  mere 
brute  courage,  and  compelling  the  instinctive  homage  of  Herculean 
strength  and  prowess. 

"With  what  firm  yet  conscientious  resolve  does  he  quell  the  rising  symp. 
toms  of  rebellion  which  threaten  to  add  the  horrors  of  mutiny  To  those 
of  famine  and  disease  !  And,  all  through  that  stern  battle  with  Nature 
in  her  most  savage  haunts,  how  he  ever  seems  to  turn  his  mild  front 
toward  her  frowning  face,  if  in  piteous  appealing,  yet  not  less  in  fixed 
resignation  ! 

We  instinctively  exult  in  every  triumph  of  mind  over  wiattcr,  in  every 
fresh  aggression  of  art  upon  nature,  and  cannot  but  feel,  even  while 
touched  by  their  sufi'crings,  a  generous  pride  in  those  who  enlarge  our  ideas 
of  human  endurance  and  strengthen  our  faith  in  moral  as  distinguished 
from  material  power.  But  when  such  intrepidity  and  fortitude  are  dis- 
played in  the  pursuit  of  lofty,  unselfish  aims,  it  is  as  if  we  saw  the  olden 
romance  of  chivalry  returning,  in  a  practical  age,  to  enlist  the  hardiest 
virtues  in  the  service  of  the  gentlest  and  purest  charities.  The  heart 
must  applaud  in  the  midst  of  its  pity,  and  smiles  an  approval  even 
through  its  tears. 

But  if,  in  the  conduct  of  that  heroic  enterprise,  benevolence  appeared 
supported  by  energy  and  patience,  so,  too,  was  it  equipped  with  a  most 
marvellous  i^nictkal  tact.  He  brought  to  his  task  not  merely  the 
resources  of  acquired  skill,  but  a  native  power  of  adapting  himself  to 
emergencies,  and  a  fertility  in  devising  expedients,  which'  no  occasion 
ever  seemed  to  baflle.  Immured  in  a  dreadful  seclusion,  where  the  com- 
bined terrors  of  nature  forced  him  into  all  the  closer  contact  with  the 
passions  of  man,  he  not  only  rose,  by  his  energy,  superior  to  them  both, 
but,  by  his  ready  executive  talent,  converted  each  to  his  ministry.  Cir- 
cumstances which   would    have  whelmed    ordinary  minds    in    helpless 


'/Mi 

'■I'M 
'11 


\l-{ 


376 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


>- 

^ 


< 

Urn 
< 

ui 
H 

Q 

2! 


|j<a# ' 


bewilderment  appeared  only  to  enhance  his  self-collection  and  develop 
his  versatile  genius.  Whether  he  hud  to  deal  with  the  humors  of  a  sick 
and  desponding  crew,  or  to  provide  subsistence  and  amusement  in  tho 
midst  of  a  lifeless  solitude,  or  to  snatch  the  flower  of  opportunity  at  the 
dizzy  brink  of  peril, — iu  every  form  of  crisis  he  displayed  the  same  keen 
perception  of  surrounding  realities,  with  the  same  quick  and  nice  adjust- 
ment of  himself  to  their  demands.  Even  the  wild  inmates  of  that  icy 
world,  from  the  mere  stupid  wonder  with  which  at  first  they  regarded 
his  imported  marvels  of  civilization,  were  at  length  forced  to  descend 
to  a  genuine  respect  and  love,  as  they  saw  him  outwitting  their  expe- 
rience by  his  ingenuity  and  competing  with  thorn  iu  the  practice  of  their 
own  rude,  stoical  virtues. 

We  love  goodness;  we  admire  courage;  but  when  both  are  found 
armed  for  practice  with  an  adaptive  faculty  which  was  as  the  skill  of  a 
strong  hand  that  drew  its  pulse  from  a  warm  heart,  there  is  nothing  left 
us  but  to  wonder  at  a  combination  so  symmetrical  and  rare.  From  our 
contemplation  of  the  man  we  revert  to  the  occasion  to  which  he  is 
to  be  adjusted;  and  as  we  picture  the  genius  of  philanthropy  leading 
forth  her  trained  votary  after  a  perilous  prize  which  has  been  planted 
sheer  beyond  the  boundaries  of  all  local  jealousy  and  pride,  and  at  tho 
magnetic  centre  of  a  universal  sympathy,  we  L:now  not  whether  more 
to  admire  the  fitness  of  the  scene  to  the  actor,  or  of  the  actor  to  the 
scene.  So  docs  Providence,  with  poetical  rectitude,  arrange  the  drama 
of  a  good  deed. 

To  such  more  sterling  qualities  were  joined  the  graces  of  an  affluent 
cheerfulness,  that  never  deserted  him  in  the  darkest  hours, — a  delicate 
and  capricious  hwmor,  glancing  among  the  most  rugged  realities  like  the 
sunshine  upon  the  rocks, — and,  above  all,  that  invariable  stamp  of  true 
greatness,  a  beautiful  modcstij,  ever  sufficiently  content  with  itself  to  be 
above  the  necessity  of  pretension.  These  were  like  the  ornaments  of  a 
Grecian  building,  which,  though  they  may  not  enter  into  the  effect  of 
the  outline,  are  found  to  impart  to  it,  the  more  nearly  it  is  surveyed,  all 
the  grace  and  finish  of  the  most  exquisite  sculpture. 

And  yet,  strong  and  fair  as  were  the  proportions  of  that  character  in 
its  more  conspicuous  aspects,  we  should  still  have  been  disappointed  did 
we  not  find,  albeit  hidden  deep  beneath  them,  a  firm  basis  of  rclujious 
sentiment.  For  all  serious  and  thoughtful  minds  this  is  the  purest 
charm  of  those  graphic  volumes  in  which  he  has  recorded  the  story  of 
his  wonderful  escapes  and  deliverances.  There  is  everywhere  shining 
through  its  pages  a  chastened  spirit,  too  familiar  with  human  weakness 


DR.   ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


377 


of  an  affluent 
•s, — a  delicate 


nan  weakness 


to  overlook  a  Providence  in  his  trials,  and  too  conscious  of  human  insi-- 
nificance  to  disdain  its  recognition  Now,  in  his  lighter,  more  pensive 
moods,  we  see  ,t  rising,  on  the  wing  ,f  a  devout  fancy,  into  that  re-ioa 
where  piety  becomes  also  poetry  : —  * 

"I  have  t.-odden  the  deck  and  the  floes  when  the  life  of  earth  scorned 
suspcnded,-its  movements,  its  sounds,  its  colorings,  its  companionships; 
and  as  I  looked  on  the  radiant  hen.isphere,  circling  above  n)e,  as  if 
rendering  worship  to  the  un.een  centre  of  light,  I  have  ejaculated,  in 
hum.hty  of  spirit,  'Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  miudml  of 
him/ 

Again,  in  graver  emergencies,  it  appears  as  a  habitual  resource,  to 
which  he  has  come  in  conscious  dependence  :— 

"  A  trust,  based  on  experience  as  well  as  on  promises,  buoyed  mo  up 
at  the  worst  of  times.  Call  it  fatalism,  as  you  ignorantly  may,  there  is 
that  in  the  story  of  every  eventful  life  which  teaches  the  inefficiency  of 
human  means,  and  the  present  control  of  a  Supremo  Agency.  See  how 
often  relief  has  come  at  the  moment  of  extremity,  in  forms  stranody 
unsought,  almost  at  the  time  unwelcome;  see,  still  more,  how  the  back 
has  been  strengthened  to  its  increasing  burdens,  and  the  heart  cheered  by 
some  conscious  influence  of  an  unseen  Power." 

And  at  length  we  find  it  settling  into  that  assurance  which  belon-s 
to  an  experienced  faith  and  hope : —  ° 

"I  never  doubted  for  an  instant  that  the  same  Providence  which  had 
guarded  us  through  the  long  darkness  of  winter  was  still  watching  over 
us  for  good,  and  that  it  was  yet  in  reserve  for  us-for  some;  I  darld  not 
hope  for  all— to  bear  back  the  tidings  of  our  rescue  to  a  Christian  land  " 
Those  Arctic  Sabbaths  were  "  full  of  sober  thought  and  wise  resolve." 
We  hear  no  profane  oath  vaunting  itself  from  that  little  ice-bound  islet 
of  human  life,  where  man  has  been  thrown  so  helplessly  into  the  hands 
of  God;  but  rather,  in  its  stead,  murmured  amid  the  wild  uproar  of  the 
storm,  that  daily  prayer,  ''Lord,  accept  our  thanks,  and  restore  us  to 
our  homes."  And  when  at  length  that  prayer  is  graciously  answered, 
It  IS  the  same  spirit  which  brings  him  whither  now,  alas!  can  only  be 
brought  these  poor  remains,— under  the  devout  impulse,  "  I  will  pay  my 
vows  unto  the  J.ord  in  the  presence  of  all  his  people."  Let  us  believe 
that  a  faith  which  supported  him  through  trials  worse  than  death  did 
not  fail  him  when  death  itself  came. 

Into  that  last  tender  scene  both  religion  and  delicacv  alike  forbid  that 
we  should  too  curiously  intrude.  Affection  will  prize  its  melancholy 
though  sweet  reminiscencos,  long  after  the  more  public  grief  has  sub 


M 


1  f  li,|L 


378 


OBSEQUIES  OP 


-1 


en 
< 


OS 


z 

u 

K 

o: 

25 


sided.  Enough  only  of  the  veil  may  be  drawn  to  admit  us  to  a  privileged 
sympathy. 

The  disease  by  which  Dr.  Kane  was  prostrated  was  that  terrible 
scourge  of  Arctic  life,  some  seeds  of  which  remained  in  his  system  on 
his  return,  but  wore  afterward  developed  and  aggravated  by  the 
exhausting  literary  labors  incident  to  the  narrative  of  the  Expedition. 
Entirely  under-estimating  those  labors,  (of  which  but  few  of  us  are  pre- 
pared to  form  an  adequate  conception,)  he  was  quite  too  thoughtless  of 
the  claims  of  a  body  he  had  so  long  been  accustomed  to  subject  to  his 
purpose,  and  only  awoke  to  a  discovery  of  the  error  when  it  was  too  late. 
With  this  melancholy  conviction,  he  announced  the  completion  of  the 
work  to  a  friend  in  the  modest  and  touching  sentence  : — "  The  book,  poor 
as  it  is,  has  been  my  coffin." 

He  left  the  country  under  a  presentiment  that  he  should  never  return. 
For  the  first  time  in  his  life,  departure  is  shaded  with  foreboding.  It 
was  indeed  an  alarming  symptom  to  find  that  iron  nerve,  which  hitherto 
had  sustained  him  under  shocks  apparently  not  less  severe,  thus  be- 
ginning to  falter.  Yet  it  will  enhance  the  interest  that  now  gathers 
around  his  memory  to  learn  that  even  then  the  great  purpose  of  his  life 
he  had  not  wholly  abandoned,  but,  in  spite  of  the  most  serious  entreaties, 
was  already  projecting  another  Arctic  expedition  of  research  and  rescue. 
This  object  of  his  visit  he  was  not  destined  to  mature.  Neither  was  it 
to  be  his  privilege  to  enjoy  the  honors  that  awaited  him.  Successive 
and  more  virulent  attacks  of  disease  oblige  him  to  recur  to  the  last 
resorts  of  the  invalid.  In  hope  of  repairing  the  wounds  inflicted  by 
the  fierce  rigors  of  the  North,  he  is  borne  to  the  more  genial  South, 
where  at  length,  beneath  its  ardent  si  ies  and  amidst  its  fragrant  airs, 
supported  by  the  ministries  of  love  and  the  consolations  of  religion,  his 
life  drew  gently  to  a  close. 

In  the  near  approach  of  death  he  was  tranquil  and  composed.  With 
too  little  strength  either  to  support  or  'u  nc;tte  any  thing  of  rapture,  he 
was  yet  sufficiently  conscious  of  his  cocdition  t?^.  perform  f  im.;  last  acts 
befitting  the  solemn  emergency.  1..  ref-.M-encc  to  those  ^^hom  he  con- 
ceived to  have  deeply  injured  him,  he  expressed  his  cordial  forgiveness. 
To  each  of  the  watching  group  around  him  his  hand  is  given  in  the  fond 
pressure  of  a  final  parting;  and  then,  as  if  sensible  that  his  ties  to  earth 
are  loosening,  he  seeks  consolation  from  the  requested  reading  of  such 
Scripture  sentences  as  had  been  the  favorite  theme  of  his  thoughtful 
hours. 

Now  he  hears  those  soothing  beatitudes  which  fell  from  the  lips  of 


n 


DR.  ELISIIA   KENT   KANE. 


379 


the  Man  of  Sorrows  in  succossivo  benediction.     Then  he  will  have  re- 
peated to  him  that  sweet,  sacred  pastoral, — 

^  "  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd :  I  shall  not  want.  lie  maketh  mo  to 
lie  down  in  green  pastures  :  he  loadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. 
Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will 
fear  no  evil ;  for  thou  art  with  me :  thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me." 
At  length  are  recited  the  consolatory  words  with  which  the  Savior 
took  leave  of  his  weeping  disciples  : — 

"Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  ye  believe  in  God;  believe  also  in 
me.  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  naansions :  if  it  were  not  so,  I 
would  have  told  you.     I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you." 

And  at  last,  in  the  midst  of  this  comforting  recital,  he  is  seen  to  expire, 
— so  gently  that  the  reading  still  proceeds  some  moments  after  other 
watchers  have  become  aware  that  he  is  already  beyond  the  reach  of  any 
mortal  voice.  Thus,  in  charity  with  all  mankind,  and  with  words  of  the 
Kedcemer  in  his  ear,  conveyed  by  tones  the  most  familiar  and  beloved 
on  earth,  his  spirit- passed  from  the  world  of  men. 

The  heart  refuses  to  deal  with  such  a  reality.  Death  never  seems  so 
much  a  usurper  on  the  domain  of  life  as  at  the  grave  of  the  young  and 
the  gifted.  In  fancy  we  strive  to  complete  that  brilliant  fragment  of  a 
history  so  abruptly  ended.  We  are  carried  forward  into  the  future,  in 
an  effort  to  picture  all  that  he  might  have  been  to  his  country  and  the 
world,  until,  drawn  back  again  by  these  sad  shows  of  our  loss  and  sorrow, 
we  pronounce  nothing  so  visionary  as  this  fleeting  life,  and  nothing  so 
empty  as  human  glory. 

And  thus  is  it  ever  the  same  trite  lesson  we  learn  at  each  new-made 
grave.^  There  was  never  any  human  life  so  complete  that  it  could 
be  finished  on  earth.  There  was  never  any  human  spirit  so  gifted 
that  it  could  accomplish  its  destiny  here.  The  most  illustrious  actions, 
the  most  varied  attainments,  the  most  disciplined  virtues,  are  at  best  but 
crude,  elementary  trials  of  a  novitiate  state.  Could  we  follow  the  regen- 
erate spirit  as  it  emerges  from  its  earthly  pupilage;  could  we  trace 
its  career  from  scene  to  scene  of  expanding  effort  and  from  accession 
to  accession  in  knowledge,  love,  and  joy;  could  we  pause  with  it,  at 
length,  on  some  far-distant  peak  of  high  attainment,  whence,  as  in  re 
trospective  fancy,  it  looks  back  upon  rolling  worlds  with  their  changing 
climates  and  histories,— how  would  the  science,  the  philanthropy,  the 
heroism  of  this  vanishing  life  have  dwindled  away  to  the  merest  play- 
things, the  mimic  smiles  and  tears,  of  the  childhood  of  our  immortality! 
Lot  the  chaplet  be  woven,  let  the  banner  be  shrouded,  let  the  dirge  be 


380 


OBSEQUIES    OF 


wailed,  and,  with  fair,  fond  pageantry,  let  dust  be  rendered  back  to  its  kin- 
dred dust ;  but  wo  shall  not  have  soared  to  the  highest  moral  of  the  elegiac 
spectacle,  until,  from  that  cternitj  which  lies  beyond  this  tomb  of  blighted 
hope  and  buried  glory,  we  return  to  write  upon  it — This  also  is  vanity. 

Alas  I    the  hand  of  the  victor  drops  in  death  at  the  moment  it  is 
exterided  to  grasp  the  laurel. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  the  Rev.  Dr.  Boardman  delivered 
the  following  impressive  prayer  : — 


Of 


< 

X 

H 

Q 

25 


0  Lord  our  God,  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  thou  art  God ;  and 
besides  thee  there  is  none  else.  In  the  name  of  thy  beloved  Son,  our 
Mediator,  Jesus  Christ,  we  come  before  thee,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy 
and  find  grace  to  help  in  this  time  of  need. 

We  acknowledge  the  righteousness  of  that  sentence  which  has  gone 
out  against  us, — '']")ust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  slialt  thou  return;"  for 
wc  have  sinned  against  thee  and  done  evil  in  thy  sight,  and  we  are  justly 
exposed  to  the  penalty  of  thy  holy  law.  It  is  of  thy  mercies  that  wo 
are  not  consumed,  because  thy  compassions  fail  not.  Oh,  deal  not  with 
us  according  to  our  desert,  but  according  to  the  plenitude  of  thy  grace 
and  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

We  bow  down  under  this  afflictive  dispensation  of  thy  Providence, 
wherein  thou  art  staining  the  pride  of  human  glory  and  admonishing 
us  of  our  frailty.  All  flesh  indeed  is  grass,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as 
the  flower  of  the  field.  We  feel,  as  we  gather,  a  stricken  people,  around 
these  precious  remains,  that  thou  art  a  great  God,  and  a  great  King 
above  all  Gods.  Thou  doest  thy  will  in  the  army  of  heaven  and  aniong 
the  iuhabitanti-f  of  the  earth;  and  none  can  stay  thine  hand,  or  say  unto 
thee,  "  What  doest  thou  ?" 

We  render  thanks  to  thee  for  all  thy  goodness  to  thy  servant  departed. 
For  the  radiant  gifts  with  which  thou  wast  pleased  to  endow  him,  wo 
prai.se  thee.  For  that  beneficent  Providence  in  which  he  trusted,  and 
which  never  forsook  him,  we  praise  thee.  For  all  that  lie  was  enabled 
to  do  for  humanity  and  for  science,  we  praise  thee.  And  above  all  do 
we  praise  thee  for  those  divine  supports  and  consolations  Wu;  ih  sus- 
tained him  in  sickness  and  in  death. 

And  now,  O  Lord,  we  humbly  beseech  thee  to  !  onl  the  wound  which 
thou  hast  made.  Pind  up  the  hearts  of  this  afflicted  household,  and 
jomfort  them  under  their  great  bereavement.  Help  them  to  look,  away 
irom  every  earthly  solace,  to  Him  wlio  is  the  resurrection  jukI  the  life, 


DR.    ELISIIxV   KENT   KANE. 


381 


man  delivered 


and  send  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  divine  Comforter,  to  assuage  their  c^rief  to 
inspire  them  with  resignation,  to  fill  them  with  the  fulness  of  God  and 
to  enahle  them  to  say,  -  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away  • 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Be  merciful  also,  we  entreat  thee,  to  thy  servants,  the  surviving  com- 
pan.ons  of  our  brother  beloved,  who  shared  his  duties  and  his  dangers 
Comfort  their  hearts,  and  lead  them  to  seek  in  Jesus  Christ  an  endudng 
portion.  ° 

And  may  this  mournful  visitation  be  sanctified  to  this  great  com- 
jnunify !     Let  it  not  be  in  vain  that  we  are  assembled  to-day  around  the 
bier  of  one  upon  whom  earth  had  so  accumulated  its  honors   and  to 
whom  so  many  hearts  were  drawn  in  loving  confidence  and  affection. 
Kspecally  may  the  monitory  lessons  cf  this  event  be  impressed  upon 
the  hearts  of  those  who,  like  him,  are  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  science. 
3Lny  the  men  of  genius,  and  the  men  of  skill,  and  the  men  of  hi^h 
renown,  feel  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom,  a^d 
thatse-ence  is  then  fulfilii. ,   its  noblest  mission  when  it  is  unfolding  the 
glories  ot  the  Creator  in  the  .orks  of  his  hands,  and  revealing  to  his 
creatures  that  beneficent  Pro  /idence  which  is  over  all  and  in  ail-     And 
may  they  joyfully  and  gratefully  come  with  their  gifts  and  their  tri 
umpljs,  and  lay  them  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  of  Naza.oth,  who  is  over  all, 
(jrod  blessed  forever  I  ' 

May  it  please  thee  to  preserve  us  all  from  the  idolatry  of  the  world 
and  from  the  neglect  of  things  eternal !  So  teach  us  to  number  our 
days  that  we  m.iy  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom.  Euable  us  to  follow 
those  who  through  faith  and  patience  have  inherited  the  promises- 
and  receive  us  at  length  into  thy  »ieavonly  kingdom. 

These  and  all  other  mercies  needful  to  us"  we  humbly  ask,  in  the 
name  and  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  .Mediator.     Amen. 

At  the  close  of  the  prayer  the  beautiful  and  appropriate  -Solo"  com- 
l.«.^d  by  J)r.  Calcott  was  sung  by  Prof.  T.  Eishop,  with  striking  effect, 
as  lollows : —  ''  ' 

"  Forgive,  blest  shade,  the  tributary  tear 

That  mourns  thy  exit  from  a  world  like  this; 
Forgive  the  wi,«h  that  would  have  kept  thee  hero 
And  Ktay'd  thy  progress  to  the  seat  oi  bliss. 

"No  more  confined  to  grovelling  scenes  of  night, 
No  more  a  tenant  pent  in  mortal  clay ; 
Now  we  would  nithcr  I:iii1  tl>v  irl.!,-!!!!-  M—i  t 
And  trace  thy  journey  to  the  realms  of  day." 


Il' 


382 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


The  dirge,  "Unveil  thy  bosom,  faithful  tomb,"  was  then  performed; 
and,  after  a  benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shields,  the  large  congregation 
commenced  to  disperse. 


< 

Urn 
< 

ioi 

I 
K 

0 

2; 


The  imposing  public  demonstration  necessarily  terminated  with  the 
dismissal  of  the  military  escort  and  the  civic  societies  at  the  church,  and 
the  subsequent  solemnities  were  in  some  degree  of  a  private  character. 
Yet  the  Joint  Committee  considered  that  their  appointment  included 
direction  to  assist  in  the  concluding  rites,  and  to  represent  those  by 
whom  they  were  appointed  even  in  conveying  the  remains  of  the  deceased 
to  the  family  vault.  Thither  also  went  the  pall-bearers  and  the  Arctic 
companions  of  Dr.  Kane,  and  numerous  citizens:  and  there,  witii 
befitting  service  by  the  reverend  clergy,  the  body  of  Elisha  Kent  Kane 
was  laid  at  rest,  amid  the  manifestations  of  grief  and  respect  which 
have  distinguished  the  burial  of  few  men  of  his  years  in  any  country. 

In  reference  to  the  formation  of  the  funeral  cortege,  the  committee 
deem  it  proper  to  state  that  they  did  not  feel  it  incumbent  upon  them 
to  issue  invitations  to  any  particular  society  to  attend  and  participate  in 
the  ceremonies;  and  their  confidence  in  the  proper  feeling  of  their 
fellow-citizens  was  justified  in  the  numerous  notices  of  societies,  public 
institutions,  scientific,  literary,  and  philanthropic  associations,  and  other 
bodies,  of  their  intention  to  join  in  the  services,  and  an  expression  of 
desire  to  have  a  place  assigned  them  in  the  procession.  All  were  accepted ; 
and,  though  some  notices  were  received  after  the  completion  and  publi- 
cation of  the  programme,  yet  it  is  bolievcil  that  a  place  was  assigned  to 
all  those  who  desired  admittance  to  the  ranks. 

Of  the  distinguished  gentlemen  invited  to  act  as  pall-bearers,  all  not 
prevented  by  absence  or  illness  accepted;  and  the  terms  of  acceptance — 
or,  where  the  necessity  of  the  case  rendered  acceptance  impossible,  the 
expression  of  regrets — were  such  as  to  give  additional  proof  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  Dr.  Kane  was  hold,  and  of  the  conviction  of  duty 
to  make  public  demonstration  of  that  estimation. 

Only  two  persons  resident  beyond  the  limits  of  Pennsylvania  were 
invited  to  act  as  pall-bearers.  Those  were  Henry  Grinnell,  Ks(|.,  of 
New  York,  and  George  I'eabody,  Esq.,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
resident  in  London,  but  now  in  this  country.  lioth  these  gentlemen 
were  so  intimately  connected  with  the  .\rctie  I'lxpeditions  of  Dr.  Kano 
as  to  associate  their  names  inseparably  with  the  history  of  those  great 
enterprises.  It  was  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Poabody  ha.l,  before  the 
arrangements  for  the   obsequies  were  made,  let\  Washington   tor  the 


ID 


DR.    ELISIIA   KEXT   KANE. 


383 


len  performed; 


Southern  part  of  the  Union,  and  did  not  even  receive  the  invitation  to  be 
present.  Mr.  Grinnell  came  from  New  York,  and  assisted  in  the  funeral 
services  of  one  whom  he  so  highly  valued. 

As  it  rarely  happens  that  such  civic  honors  are  paid  to  the  memory 
of  those  who  have  not  been  distinouished  by  lofty  political  places  or 
some  rcn>arkable  achieven.cnt  in  war,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  add 
that  the  whole  manifestation  of  respect  by  the  corporation  and  citizens 
of  Ih.ladelphia  to  the  remains  of  Dr.    Kane  seems  to  be  remarkable 
from  Its  expression  of  public  feeling,  which  presented  itself  in  a  form 
and  with  a  universality  that  demanded  an  extraordinary  demonstration, 
and  to  sanction  all  that  the  Joint  Committee  could  devise  and  execute 
under  existing  circumstances;  and,  while  this  same  feeling  was  evident, 
and    Its    utterance   more    remarkable,    at    Havana,    wliero     Dr.    Kr.ne 
breathed  his  last,-at  New  Orleans,  where  his  remains  first  touched  the 
shores  of  our  country,-and  all  through  the  long  '<  funeral  march"  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Mis.sissippi  to  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,-it  wa.-  most 
certainly  appropriate  that  hero,  in  Philadelphia,  illustrated  by  his  achieve- 
ments, here,  where  his  science  and  humanity  had  added  new  di-nity  to 
the  distinction  of  his  native  city,  his  memory  should  be  honored  by 
those  who  can  appreciate  the  excellence  which  he  manifested,  and  who 
though  they  mourn  the  loss  to  science  and  philanthropy  which  his  early 
death  has  caused,  can  comprehend  the  merits  of  one  who  accomplished 
the  work  of  ages  in  what  was  a  short  life  in  all  respects  save  its  useful- 
ness.    No  city  in  the  Union  has  a  richer  treasury  in  the  fame  of  its  sons 
than  rhila.lelphia.     In  literature,  in  science,  in  the  arts,  in  the  achieve- 
ments of  war,  in  the  beautiful  works  of  peace,  in  enlarged  provision  for 
the  destitute,  and   in  general  philanthropy,  the  examples  of  I'hiladel- 
phians  are  beautiful  precedents  of  all  that  is  great  in  plan  and  ennobling 
in  execution ;  and  on  the  roll  of  their  civivj  fame  she  now  records  the 
name  of  Elislia  Kent  Kane,  and   the  whole  civilized  world  attests  the 
correctness  of  the  appreciation    and  does  homage  to    the  merits  that 
secured  the  record.     At  home  the  influence  of  the  good  example  of  those 
who  have  preceded  us  has  been  always  operative  for  good:  henceforth 
there  will  bo  an  additional  incitement  to  enterprise  and  philanthropy 
in  the  noble  daring  and  self-sacrificing  philanthropy  of  Dr.  Kane;  and 
Philadelphians  abroad  will  have  a  new  distinction  in  their  civic' rela- 
tions with  one  whose  actions  have  cast  so  much  lustre  on  generous  enter- 
prise,  and  so  magnified  the  value  of  practical  benevolence. 

Nor  can  the  committee  omit  to  remark  that  the  sonorous  couraL'o  -md 
the  unfailing  urbanity  of  Dr.  Kane  awakened,  even  iu  the  hearts  of  the 


384 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


Urn 

2 

K 

O 

:5 


uncivilized  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  a  sense  of  lofty  regard  for 
the  possession  and  praetieo  of  those  qualities;  so  that,  wherever  Provi- 
dence allowed  him  to  gratify  his  desire  for  research,  he  excited  feelings 
and  left  impressions  that  will  keep  alive  profound  admiration  for  his 
talents  and  secure  ineffaceable  gratitude  for  his  kindness. 

While  it  is  understood  that  the  same  feeling  of  civic  pride  animated 
all  who  chared  in  the  solemnitier  of  the  occasion,  it  is  considered  an  act 
of  justice  to  express  gratitude  to  the  chief-marshal,  who  assisted  the 
committee  in  the  arrangement  of  the  plan  of  the  procession,  and  who  so 
successfully  carried  out  the  whole  arrangement;  while  thanks  are  also 
duo  to  his  aids  and  assistants,  who  secured  the  most  perfect  fulfilment  of 
his  and  the  committee's  arrangement  in  the  details  submitted  to  their 
care. 

The  procession  derived  much  of  its  solemnity  from  the  striking  displny 
of  military,  who,  under  Brigadier-General  George  Cadwallader,  assisted 
as  escort.  The  commanding  officer  was  prompt  in  complying  with  the 
wishes  of  the  committee ;  and  the  whole  arrangement  was  a  beautiful  and 
meritorious  tribute  of  respect  by  the  citizen-soldiery  to  the  citizen  of 
arms  and  arts  and  sciences  and  generous  impulses. 

The  company  of  Washington  Graj's,  in  addition  to  the  escort-duties, 
earned  the  gratitude  of  the  committee  and  of  the  public  by  the  gentle- 
manly delicacy  with  which  they  discharged  the  duties  of  guard  of  honor 
to  the  body  as  it  lay  in  state  in  the  Hall  of  Independence.  Where  all 
the  citizens  seemed  concerned  to  have  the  demonstration  such  as  would 
be  expressive  of  the  deepest  grief  at  the  loss  deplored  and  the  most 
profound  respect  for  the  memory  of  the  honored  dead,  it  would  seem 
unnecessary  to  make  especial  reference  to  the  particular  classes  who 
joined  in  the  manifestation  of  the  day ;  but  it  is  deemed  due  to  the 
proper  spirit  of  our  citizens  to  say  that  the  gicat  mercantile  interests  of 
the  city  were  represented  not  only  by  those  who  were  invited  to  take 
some  special  part  in  the  proceedings,  but  by  a  great  body  of  merchants 
from  the  Corn  Exchange,  who  did  honor  to  their  pursuits  by  the  spirit 
and  liberality  with  which  they  seconded  the  ciforts  of  the  Committee, 
and  the  numbers  by  which  they  were  represented  in  the  procession. 
Dr.  Kane  was  not,  in  any  of  his  various  professional  relations,  directly 
connected  with  the  commercial  calling;  but  he  was  a  man  of  enterprise, 
of  science,  of  generous  daring  on  the  seas;  he  was  a  philanthropist;  ho 
was  a  rhiladelphian ;  and  the  Association  of  the  Corn  Exchange  showed 
its  power  to  appreciate  the  honor  which  the  fame  of  the  deceased  threw 
upon  all  professional  pursuits,  and  they  deserve  the  special  thanks  of  the 


n 


DR.   ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


385 


oomm.t  ee  for  naamfctlng  tl.eir  gonero™  sympathies  for  one  wl,o  a,  a 
Pa,ladelph,an  l,a,  th,w„  lustre  upon  nautical  enterprise  and  i„  Id 
the^nan,e  and  charaeter  of  .nan  „it,.  „ew  and  .o'e  beautiful "l!:- 

Clairninf!  spoeial  proprietorship  in  the  fame  of  Dr.  Kane,  the  eitizeus 
of  Ph,Iadelph,a„,ustfeel  that  such  honors  as  were  in  NewOlosn 
Lou,sv,:ie,  Cncmnati,  Colun.bu.,,  Balti.nore,  and  other  places  b  tow  d 
upon  the  re,na,ns  of  „„r  towns.nan,  devolved  upon  then,  the  du  y  at 
least  of  pub  ,c  ack„owled,n,ent;  and,  while  they  Inow  how  spontanfol 
were  these  tokens  of  rcpeet,  and  how  specially'pald  to  and  doservedr 
the  dead,  the  eo„„„„tee  feel  it  incun.benl  upon  horn  ,o  express  n  the 
name  of  those  when,  they  represent,  a  profound  ,ra„tude  for  the  st  rit'! 

"rn^L:         "'°  ■'""""'  e-'tusiasn.  of  their  fellow-ei.i.en   trf 
uisiance  lound  expression. 

ccct™  of ';S  """'  r  I'"  '"""''°""  "'  "  ""•■"■"™'  --  °"  - 

studied  eulogy  of  hnn  who  was  the  object  of  those  hono4   for  the 

:r:;D  °, l:  "  ''Trr  -"■'  "p-"""'-  ""--y^- ' 

°  .    p  ■„      V  "*''™'"''S«<i  i  everywhere  his  fune  is  re-^arded 

a  part  of  the  d.stme.ion  of  this  age;  and  the  in.,pirati„n  of  the  poet 

he  power  of  the  pen  and  the  press,  and  the  voice  of  the  public  speaker 
W  been  o..erc,.sed  ,o  give  utterance  to  those  sentin.en.s'of  adltiou 
whteh  a  I  fee  ,  and  to  wh.ch  all  respond  when  thus  uttered.    But,  had  such 
beer,  a  duty  devolved  upon  the  connuittee.  that  duty  could  n„t  hav   b    „ 
more  gra  .fyngly  discharged  than  it  was  by  the  1^:  Mr.  Shields,  and    o 
supply  the  dehceuey  of  their  own  e..pressions,  the  comn,ittee  adopt  h 
language  „,  that  d.v.ne,  and  have  ineorponUed  into  their  s,atcu,ent  of  th 
,  ro^ed.ngs  of  the  day  that  n,o,,t  interesting  part  which,  in  the  grandeur 
of  snnphcty,  gave  utterance  to  a  well.prep.red  eulogy,  and  which  held 
up  for  a  m,ratnm  the  strong  characteristics  of  thetlogi.ed,  and  dis 
plajcJ  lh,,se  characler,st,c«  so  blonued  with  the  bcaulifuland  the  good 
«  to  cxh.h.t  "  a  con.bina.ion  and  a  forn.  indeed  that  gave  the  world 
assurance  of  a  num."  ^ 

In  the  opinion  of  the  comn.ittce,  tlie  proceedings  which  marked  the 
who  0  progress  ot  the  remains  of  Dr.  Kane,  from  his  doath-bod  to  the 
sepulchre,  were  then.selves  one  of  the  .nost  distinguished  eulogies  that 
.1  people  has  over  pronounced  upon  one  who  eh.imod  no  distinction  as  a 
loader  of  arnues  or  as  a  director  in  staten.anship;  and  the  single  record 
ot  the  outburst  of  public  feeling,  and  the  domon..trati.n  of  ^eneral 
regard  that  had  place  in  this  country  aud  are  still  to  be  noticed,  will  be 

25 


386 


OBSEQUIES   OF 


< 

(a 


^^^H 

V) 

^^H 

^ 

^^^^^H 

•MB 

^^H 

< 

^^^B 

iM 

^^^H 

lU 

^1 

< 

^B 

Z 

|H 

ce 

^^^^^^^^^H 

UJ 

^^^H  ' ' 

I 

^^B 

H 

^^V  1 

^^^^^B 

Of 

^H 

0 

^H 

? 

^^^B  m-^s.M 

the  proudest  monument  that  can  be  raised  to  the  lofty  and  the  gentle 
qualities,  the  enterprise,  the  philanthropy,  the  science,  and  the  friend- 
ship, of  Elisha  Kent  Kane. 

But  the  committee  ore  reminded  of  a  subject  submitted  to  one  part 
of  their  body  by  the  public  meeting  by  which  the  committee  from  the 
citizens  was  appointed,  viz. :  the  collection  of  funds  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment, at  some  appropriate  place,  to  the  memory  of  Pr.  Kane, — not  simply 
to  do  him  honor,  but  rather  to  do  our  community  the  justice  to  show 
that  it  could  appreciate  the  noble  character  of  their  townsman;  and, 
while  the  nation  may  possibly  boast  of  the  merits  of  the  honored  dead, 
our  own  citizens  may  proudly  point  to  the  recorded  proof  that  he  was 
of  their  own  number. 

It  is  not  the  opinion  of  the  committee  that  the  corporation  of  the 
city  should  be  asked  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  the  proposed  monument. 
The  sum  that  would  be  worthy  of  the  giver  in  such  a  case  would  deprive 
citizens  of  the  opportunity  of  expressing  their  admiration  of  the  cha- 
racter of  the  honored  dead,  and  make  the  monument  itself  an  emblem 
of  civic  pride  rather  than  a  token  of  popular  admiration.  The  monu- 
ment, if  erected,  must  be  the  exponent  of  general  sentiment  individually 
expressed.  And  the  young  aspirant  for  fame  and  honor  must  learn,  from 
that  column,  that  greatness  is  the  result  of  noble  enterprise  and  self- 
abnegation,  and  that  the  virtues  which  secure  permanent  distinction 
and  unfading  honor  are  those  that  appeal  to  the  affections  of  the  people, 
and  that  no  monument  is  so  honorable  or  so  enduring  as  that  which 
records  the  triumphs  of  science  by  the  aid  of  benevolence. 

It  is  a  part  of  the  instructions  of  the  solemnities  and  public  proceed- 
ings which  are  here  noticed,  and  the  part  most  useful  to  the  young  and 
gratifying  to  all,  that  public  sentiment  in  our  country  is  most  healthful, 
and  that  people  of  all  pursuits  and  conditions  can  appreciate  the  merit 
that  rests  on  the  achievements  of  peace  and  the  sacrifices  to  duty ;  and 
that  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war,  or  the  distinction  of  lofty  political 
station,  appealing  as  they  do  to  the  patriotic  pride  of  the  people,  are  not 
the  only  claims  to  public  applause.  The  young,  by  such  demonstrations 
as  have  been  made  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Kane,  see  that  there  is  a  sub- 
stantial worth  in  virtue  and  generous  enterprise,  and  that  the  avenues 
to  great  distinction  and  to  general  gratitude  are  open  to  tlie  man  who 
can  divest  himself  of  calculations  of  solfi.sh  gain,  and  exercise  the 
noblest  sympathies  of  his  nature  in  acts  of  public  beneiit,  which  call  for 
the  sacrifice  of  personal  ease  and  safety  to  the  comfort  and  convenience 
of  others.     And  it  is  as  much  upon  the  character  of  the  generous  self- 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT    KANE. 


387 


sacrificing  philanthropy  as  upon  that  of  a  daring  and  successful  contribu- 
tor to  science,  that  Dr.  Kane  has  built  his  lofty  reputation. 

It  is  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  great  fame  of  Dr.  Kane,  that 
he  had  achieved  the  position  which  he  must  ever  occupy  in  history,  at 
an  age  when,  in  general,  men  are  but  undergoing  the  discipline  which 
prepares  them  for  the  enterprise   and    endurance    necessary  to  great 
success.     And  though  he  undoubtedly  fell  a  sacrifice  to  his  generous 
enterprise,  and  to  his  noble  eff-orts  to  mitigate  for  others  the  conse- 
quences of  perils  and  deprivations  to  which  he  and  his  companions 
were  necessarily  exposed,  and  suffered  immensely  from  the  voluntary 
assumption  to  himself  of  burdens  that  might  have  appropriately  been 
left  to  others,  yet  it  is  not  found  that  such  manifest  consequences  led 
him  to  regret  the  sacrifice.     On  the  contrary,  his  history  exhibits  not  a 
single  page  of  selfish  thought  or  action,  from  the  moment  he  entered 
upon  the  career  which  has  given  him  the  praise,  sympathy,  and  grati- 
tude of  a  world,  to  the  hour  when,  afar  from  home,  yet  amidst  cherished 
relatives  and  friends,  he  calmly  yielded  up  all  earthly  ties,  with  a  Chris- 
tian's  confidence  and  submission  to  his  Creator's  will.     It  is  perfectly 
manifest  that  in  all  his  undertakings,  his  privations  and  perils,  and  their 
obvious  effect  upon  his  system,  he  acted  upon  the  ennobling  sentimci.t 
that  "  the  duties  of  life  are  greater  than  life." 


The  publishers  would  express  their  obligation  to  the  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Chandler 
for  his  admirable  taste  and  skill  in  the  preparation  of  the  foregoing  account  of 
the  obsequies  of  Dr.  Kane.  The  various  addresses,  discourses,  &c,  have  since 
been  carefully  revised  and  corrected  by  their  authors, 

ChILDS    &   P2TER8ON, 


0^ 


ui 


0 


!  t*  * 


1^ 


EULOGY 


ON 


DB.  ELI8H1  KENT  KANE, 

PRONOUNCED    BY 

BRO.  E.  W.  AISDREWS, 

BEFORE  THE  GRAND  lODGE  OF  THE  ANCIENT  AND  HONORABLE  FRATERNITY  OF 
FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS  IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 

TUKE  5,  1857; 

TOaETHER    WITH    THE 

BY  THE  M.  AV.  GEAND  MASTER, 

*^D   LETTERS  RECEIVED  ON  THE  OCCASION  FROM 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  WASHINGTOX  IRVING,  GENERAL  WOOL,  JUDGE  KANE 
COMMODORES  PERRY,  STEWART.  AND  READ. 

AND    MANY    OTHER   DISTINGUISHED    GENTLEMEN    IN    VARIOUS    PARTS 

OF    THE    UNION. 


I      '1)11 


1,1    i 


< 

LL' 
< 


Office  of  the  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
OF  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

New  York,  June  22,  1857. 
Dear  Sir  and  Brother: — At  the  Annual  Communication  of  the  M.W.  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in  this  city  on  the  6th  of  June,  a.l.  6857, 
the  following  resolution  was  adopted  : — 

"Whereas,  the  members  of  the  M.W.  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  Annual  Communication  assembled,  having  listened  to  the  eulogy,  pronounced 
on  the  evening  of  the  6th  instant,  to  the  memory  of  our  distinguished  and  beloved 
brother  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  do  desire  to  express  to  our  worthy  and  esteemed  brother 
E.  W.  Andrews  their  high  pleasure  and  satisfaction  with  the  ability  and  fidelity 
with  which  he  has  discharged  the  duty  imposed  upon  him :   therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  our  brother  E.  W.  Andrews  be  requested  to  place  his  manu- 
script in  the  hands  of  our  R.W.  Deputy  Grand  Master  and  R.  W.  Grand  Secretary, 
to  be  published  under  their  supervision,  for  distribution  among  the  members  of 
the  Grand  Lodge." 

To  enable  us  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  will  you  be  kind 
enough  to  furnish  us  with  a  copy  of  said  eulogy  ? 

Very  \ruly  and  fraternally,  yours, 

James  M.  Austin, 
To  Hon.  E.  W.  Andrews.  Grand  Secretary/. 


Z 

at 

X 
K 

0 


New  York,  June  24,  1&57. 
R.W.  James  M.  Austin,  Grand  Secretary. 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother  : — Your  letter  of  the  22d  instant,  enclosing  a  copy 

of  the  resolution  adopted  by  the  New  York  Grand  Lodge  on  the  6th  of  June  last, 

was  duly  received,  and  is  gratefully  acknowledged. 

In  accordance  with  the  wish  embodied  in  the  resolution,  I  herewith  send  you 

my  manuscript  and  place  it  at  your  disposal. 

Truly  and  fraternally,  yours, 

E.  W.  Andrews. 


890 


OTEODUCTION. 


ill  you  be  kind 


ine  24,  1867. 


ewith  send  you 


V.  Andrews. 


_  When  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Kane  was  received 
m  the  United  States,  the  brethren  of  Arcana  Lodge,  in  the  city  of  x\ew 
iork,  immediately  adopted  measures  to  pay  suitable  public  honors  to 
the  memory  of  the  illustrious  deceased,  as  a  worthy  brother  of  the  Fra- 
ternity of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  an  honorary  member  of  that 
Lodge,  by  adopting  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  :— 

Whereas  In  the  removal  of  Bro.  Kane  from  our  midst  we  recognise  a  dispensa- 
tion of  the  Great  Architect  of  the  Universe,  to  which  we  bow  in  humble  submis- 
sion, wh.  e  as  mortal  beings  we  mourn  the  loss  to  mankind  of  so  much  worth 
beyond  that  with  which  Supreme  Wisdom  has  endowed  a  large  majority  of  His 
earthly  intelligences ;  and 

Whereas,  In  his  decease  we  are  sensible  of  the  loss  of  a  true  and  valued 
Brother;  viewing  it  as  an  event  of  no  ordinary  sorrow,  not  to  us  alone  as  a  Fra- 
ternity, but  to  the  country  in  whose  service  his  life  has  been  sacrificed,  after  a 
short  but  brilliant  career,  to  place  a  new  and  beautiful  chaplet  on  her  brow  and 
to  the  world,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  in  science,  bravery, 
and  worth,  having  inscribed  his  name  on  the  great  scroll  of  time,  to  be  read  and 
respected  by  future  generations ;  and 

Whereas,  His  devotion  to  the  Fraternity  and  to  humanity  was  so  nobly 
exhibited  m  his  untiring  efforts  to  rescue  a  lost  brother,  in  the  person  of  Sir 
John  Frankhn,  and  in  planting,  with  the  American  flag,  Masonic  emblems  to 
arrest  the  attention  of  travellers  and  voyagers  in  the  desolate  region  of  eternal 
ice :    Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  a  Lodge  of  Sorrow  be  holden,  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be 
hereafter  designated,  in  honor  of  our  cherished  and  lamented  brother.  Dr.  Elisha 
K.  Kane. 

Upon  subsequent  consultation,  however,  with  the  officers  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  State,  it  was  adjudged  proper  that  this  body,  at  its  Annual 
Communication,  to  be  held  in  June,  should  take  the  lead  in  giving 
expression  to  the  profound  grief  of  the  brotherhood  at  the  early  death 

C91 


■'M' 


392 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


of  one  of  its  most  distinguished  members,  and  their  respect  and  affection 
for  his  memory;   and  the  following-named  brethren  were   appointed  a 


COMMITTEE    OF   ARKANOEMENTS. 


Of 


14. 


2 
U 

Ui 

N 
0 


R.  W.  ROBT.  MACOY, 
"      JAMES  M.  AUSTIN, 
"      CIIAS.  L.  CHURCH, 
"      JOHN  Vr.  SIMONS, 
W.     WM.  GURNEY, 
"      CHAS.  A.  PECK, 
"      A.  P.  MORIARTY, 
"      HENRY  W.  TURNER, 
«      CHAS,  F.  NEWTON, 

Bro.  SIDNEY 


W.  CHAS.  S.  WESTCOTT, 
"    THOMAS  S.  SOMMERS, 
"    THOMAS  E.  GARSON, 
"    NEHEMIAH  PECK, 
"    ARTHUR  BOYCE, 
"    GEO.  C.  WEBSTER, 
"    J.  B.  Y.  SOMMERS, 
«  ANDRES  CASSARD, 
"    JAMES  B.  TAYLOR, 
KOPMAN. 


The  evening  of  the  5th  of  June  was  designated  as  the  time  when 
some  appropriate  public  demonstration  should  be  made,  and  the  church 
of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Chapin,  on  Broadway,  was  selected  as  the  place.  Bro. 
E.  W.  Andrews,  of  New  York,  was  invited  to  pronounce  the  eulogy  on 
the  occasion,  which  invitation  ho  accepted.  The  music  was  placed 
under  the  direction  of  Bro.  James  B.  Taylor;  and  other  arrangements 
were  made  which  the  dignity  and  solemnity  of  the  occasion  demanded. 
When  the  appointed  evening  arrived,  a  large  and  most  respectable  audi- 
ence assembled  :  the  church  was  draped  in  mourning ;  a  fine  bust  of  Dr. 
Kane  was  placed  prominently  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  resting  on  a  pedestal 
draped  with  ^he  tattered  flag  of  the  two  Arctic  Expeditions,  and  in  the 
rear  of  it  was  hung  a  beautiful  banner,  emblazoned  with  symbols  of  Free 
Masonry.  The  music,  both  vocal  and  instrumental,  was  in  harmony 
with  the  mournfulness  of  the  scene,  and  deepened  the  solemn  impression 
it  produced.  The  officers  and  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge  appeared 
in  full  regalia  and  wearing  badges  of  mourning.  As  in  sad  procession 
they  entered  the  centre-aisle  of  the  spacious  church,  and  with  slow  and 
measured  step  passed  up  beneath  its  lofty  arches  toward  the  sacred  altar, 
while  the  deep-toned  organ  pealed  forth  its  solemn  notes,  and  the  voices 
of  the  choir,  in  the  mournful  dirge,  seemed  the  breathings  of  bereaved 
hearts,  the  scene  was  deeply  impressive.  Every  heart  seemed  touched 
with  the  spirit  of  sadness.  When  the  music  ceased,  amidst  the  profound 
stillness  that  prevailed  through  the  large  and  thoughtful  assembly,  tho 
Grand  Chaplain,  R.  W.  and  Rev.  R.  L.  Schoonmaker,  arose,  and  in  a 
most  tarvent  and  touching  prayer  addressed  the  Throne  of  Grace.  Tho 
following 


M 


t 


DR.   ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


593 


ODE, 

WniTTEN    BY    BRO.  JAME8    HEERINQ,  WAS    THEN 
BVm    BY    MRS.  SPROSTON,   MISS   GEER,  AND    MESSRS.  TAYLOR   AND  W,LUAM3. 

Here  let  the  snored  rites  decreed 

In  honor  of  departed  friends 
With  solemn  order  now  proceed, 

While  living  faith  with  sorrow  blends. 
Now  let  the  hymn,  the  humble  prayer, 

From  hearts  sincere  ascend  on  high, 
And  mystic  evergreen  declare 

The  /ioj>e  within  us  cannot  die. 

The  mortal  frame  may  be  conceal'd 

Within  the  narrow  house  of  gloom, 
But  God  in  mercy  has  revcal'd 

Immortal  life  beyond  the  tomb. 

The  friends  wo  mourn  we  still  may  love: 

Then  let  our  aspirations  rise 
To  that  brij^lit  spirit-world  above 

Where  virtue  lives,  love  never  dies. 

The  M.  W.  Grand  Master,  John  L.  Lewis,  Jr.,  then  briefly  addressed 
the  audience  upon  the  melancholy  nature  of  the  occasion  which  had 
brought  them  together. 

ADDRESS. 
Brethren  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :— 
A  few  hours  since  I  was  first  informed,  by  reading  the  printed  pro- 
gramme, that  it  was  announced  that  I  was  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
exercises  of  this  evening.     My  Masonic  brethren  need  not  be  told  that 
my  engagements  elsewhere,  till  within  the  last  hour,  have  prevented  me 
from  making  any  preparation,  or  reflecting  upon  the  subject-matter  of 
what  I  should  here  speak.    But  this  consideration  did  not-could  not- 
restrain  me  from  being  present  and  contributing  my  humble  aid  in  this 
public  testimonial  to  the  services  and  worth  of  him  who  is  wrnioped  in 
the  silent  slumber  that  knows  uo  waking,  in  a  distant  city.     I  n.i^ht 
indeed  catch  inspiration  from  the  scene  presented  before  and  around 
me.     This  large  and  attentive  assemblage,  intent  on  doing  homage  to 
departed  genius,  the   fervid  and   thrilling   petition  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace,  just  off-ered,  the  rich  harmony  pealing  from  yonder  skilled  choir, 
all  awaken  deep  emotions;  but  I  will  not  attempt  to  give  them  utterance.' 


394 


MASONIC   OBSEQUIES  OF 


to 

< 

U. 

< 

z 
u 

s 

K 
O 


My  simple  duty  will  best  be  discharged  by  a  brief  allusion  to  tlie  reasons 
that  have  brou<«;ht  us  together. 

This  respectable  and  intelligent  auditory  scarcely  require  to  be 
reminded  of  the  cause  of  this  assemblage.  These  emblems  of  Masonry, 
these  drooping  flags,  these  mute  yet  speaking  evidences  of  sorrow, 
remind  us  that  we  are  in  the  house  of  mourning.  The  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  now  assembled  in  Annual  Communication, 
have  resolved  to  set  apart  a  portion  of  their  time  to  do  public  honor  to 
the  name  and  memory  of  Dr.  Elisha  K.  Kane,  as  not  only  indicative 
of  their  own  feelings,  but  as  due  to  his  character.  And  why 
should  we  thus  honor  his  name  and  memory?  He  was  not  a  citizen  of 
our  State,  nor  a  regular  member  of  any  Lodge  under  this  jurisdiction ; 
and  we  have  apparently  only  the  feelings  of  sorrow  entertained  in 
common  by  the  entire  Craft,  that  a  distinguished  and  beloved  brother 
of  our  world-wide  Fraternity  has  passed  away.  It  would  be  sufficient 
to  base  our  action  alone  upon  this.  While  we  claim  that  a  connection 
with  the  Masonic  Fraternity  reflects  credit  upon  each  individual  member, 
it  frequently  occurs  that  the  character  of  its  distinguished  votaries  also 
reflects  a  brighter  renown  upon  our  institution.  Their  fame  becomes 
our  fame ;  their  honor  is  our  honor,  their  renown  our  renown ;  and  in 
this  instance  wc  feel  that  the  achievements  of  Kane  have  shed  a  halo 
of  glory  around  the  Masonic  brotherhood  "  bright  as  the  mystic  aurora 
of  the  clime  he  braved."  The  distinguished  and  eloquent  brother  from 
whose  glowing  lips  wc  are  to  hear  a  truthful  eulogy  upon  the  life  and 
character  of  Dr.  Kane  will  tell  how  he  loved  our  institution;  how  its 
lessons  cheered  the  rigor  and  gloom  of  Polar  night;  and  how,  erecting 
his  country's  standard  as  at  once  a  shield  and  a  signal,  he  spread  to  the 
blast  beneath  it  a  flag  bearing  the  peculiar  devices  of  the  Craft,  that  it 
might  perchance  catch  the  eye  of  some  wanderer  in  that  frozen  clinio 
and  urge  him  by  its  mute  appeal  to  more  vigorous  exertions  to  cheer  and 
save.  It  is  proper  that  I  should  remind  you  (as  I  have  once  already 
done  at  the  opening  of  the  Annual  Communication)  that  the  Grand 
Lodjje  of  New  York  thus  publicly  pays  tribute  to  his  merits  and  genius 
because  ho  was  an  honorary  member  of  one  of  the  Lodges  under  its 
jurisdiction,  (Arcana  Lodge,)  and  because  his  last  spoken  farewell, 
previous  to  his  departure  upon  his  latest  perilous  expedition,  was  to  this 
Grand  Lodge,  assembled  in  special  cuinmunicatiou  to  exchange  parting 
salutations  and  to  cheer  him  onward  in  his  hazardous  enterprise  of 
seeking  for  au  eminent  lust  brother  iu  tho  regions  of  perpetual  wintry 
dvsoiutiuQ. 


DR.   ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


11  to  the  reasons 


305 

It  is  as  much  the  province  of  our  ancient  Fraternity  to  gather  around 
the  open  grave  and  silent  tomb  of  a  brother  as  it  is  to  meet  upon  festal 
or  ceremonial  occasions,  where  mutual   smiles  and  innocent  f^.^Jvitv 
denote  the  joyousness  of  the  heart.      We  gather  in  our  Lodges  of 
Sorrow  when  the  loved  and    honored  have   departed   and  sit  in  the 
chambers  of  death,  to  give  expression  to  the  emotions  which  stir  our 
sou^;  and  oars  is  the  mournful  duty  of  strewing  the  grave  of  a  brother 
with  the  weeping  acacia,  as  a  token  that,  while  we  witness  the  mortality 
of  the  body,  we  aleo  believe  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  lingering 
around  the  little  mound  of  earth  which  crowns  his  last  resting-place! 
while  we  speak  of  his  virtues  and  our  own  bereavement.     Ours  is  the 
niournful  task  of  weaving  chaplots  for  the  sepulchre  as  well  as  garlands 
for  the  living  brow,  and  of  planting  the  shady  cypress  in  the  cemetery 
of  the  silent  dead.     We  have  thus  met,  as  in  a  Lodge  of  Sorrow,  to- 
night; and,  while  our  spirits  kindle  at  the  recollection  of  what  our  dis- 
inguishPd  brother  has  done  fur  the  cause  of  our  common  humanity  and 
for  the  fresh  honors  he  has  shed  upon  our  gallant  navy,  we  mourn  at 
he  remembrance  that  he  has  passed  away  from  earth  forever,  but  yet  in 
the  fulness  of  his  fame  and  the  brightness  of  his  early  renown. 

We  do  not  mourn  alone.     Listen  to  what  his  former  distinguished 
and   gallant  commander,  Commodore  Perry,  that  brave  and  renowned 
veteran,   Commodore  Stewart,  the  enlightened    Maury,  and  others  of 
high  meritorious  character,  say  of  their  lamented  brother-officer.     Nor 
a  one  does  the  voice  of  sorrow  come  up  from  the  surges  of  the  sounding 
sea.     Ihe  gallant  soldiery  of  the  country  delight  to  honor   skill   and 
daring,  whether  by  sea  or  land.     Hear  the  language  of  the  distinguished 
and  renowned   second  in  comn.and  of  the  United  States  army,  Major- 
Gencral  Wool.     Hoar  also  the  voices  of  our  statesmen  and  men  of  litera- 
ture,-the  accomplished  Everett,  Irving,  Willis,  Halleck,  Lester,  and  a 
host  of  other  celebrities,  from  the  pulpit,  the  bar,  and  the  mystic  circle 
The  Grand  Master  then  read  a  number  of  letters  which  had  been 
received  in  response  to  the  following  invitation  :— 

Office  of  the  Guano  Lodge  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  tub  State  of  New  V( 

Dkau  Sm  :.-T he  frntornity  of  Freo  and  A.cepto.l  Masons  of  tho  State  of  New 
York,  desn-ous  of  te.t.fyin,  „.eir  high  appreciation  of  tho  lamented  and  distin 

P    t'    ::     ;  r  •  "'^'^  '""  •''""'•  '"^^  ""^^^  arrangements  for  approp.-ia  e 
pubhc  honors  to  In.  memory.     The  ceremonies  to  take  nlano  „n  F.i.l..;  ov-'nin. 

'Z  J-cloct  '''"""  °'  ""  ""•  "'•  ''•  "•  '""'""•  •"  ''-adwayrnt'  half-pa:; 


I'ORK,    V 


.iiiiii 


306 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


Eulogium  by  the  Hon.  Bro.  E.  W.  Andrews,  and  other  appropriate  exercises. 
You  are  respectfully  invited  to  attend  and  join  in  this  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  the  departed. 

Chas.  a.  Peck,  "\ 

RoBT.  Macoy,       >  Committee  on  Invitation. 

Sidney  Kopman,  ) 


LETTERS. 


!*' 


fid 


4$ 

0 

2; 


{From  Charles  Stewart,  Senior  Commodore,  United  States  Navy.) 

Philadelphia  Navy-Yard,  June  3,  1857. 
Gentlemen:— I  have  the  honor  to  receive  your  kind  invitation  of  the  1st 
instant,  in  behalf  of  the  Honorable  the  Frue  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  to  attend  in  the  contemplated  public  honors  to  the  memory  of  the 
lamented  ami  distinguished  brother  Dr.  Elisha  K.  Kane. 

Could  I  have  been  spared  from  the  duties  of  this  post,  without  public  incon- 
venience, on  the  5th  instant,  it  would  have  afforded  me  the  most  grateful  feelings 
to  have  united  with  our  brethren  of  the  State  of  New  York  by  my  attendance  on 
the  occasion  of  their  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  on')  so  honorably  dis- 
tinguished and  self-sacrificed  for  the  benefit  of  the  humar  family. 

Accept,  gentlemen,  with  the  assurance  of  my  regret,  from  inability  on  this 
occasion,  to  comply  with  your  interesting  wishes,  that  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

Most  respectfully. 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

To  Brothers  Charles  Stewart. 

Chas.  A.  Peck,    - 

lloBERT  Macoy,    \.  Committee  on  Invitation. 
Sidney  Kopman, 


{From  Commodore  Perry,  United  States  Navy.) 
88  West  Thirty-Second  Street,  New  York,  June  3,  1857. 
Gentlemen  :— I  regret  exceedingly  that  a  protracted  illness,  which  has  confined 
me  to  my  house  for  several  weeks,  will  deprive  mo  of  the  gratification  of  joining 
you  in  doing  lienor  to  the  memory  of  our  departed  brother,  "the  lamented  and 
distinguished"  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane. 

Be  assured,  gentlemen,  of  my  warmest  sympathies  being  with  you  on  the 
occasion  of  your  melancholy  ceremonies. 

Most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

M.  C.  Perry. 

{From  CoMMODoiiE  Read,  United  Slates  Navy.) 

Philadelphia,  June  8,  1857. 
flcvTT.rMFV  r— I  brtve  the  honoF  to  aeknowk-dgc  the  polite  invitation  received 
from  you   to-day  to  attend  and  join  in  a  ceremony  the  object  of  which  is  to 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


397 


tee  on  Invitation. 


RLES    StEWAIIT. 


with  you  on  the 


bestow  appropriate  honors   on  the  memory  of  the  lamented   Dr.    Elisha   K 
Kane. 

Allow  me  to  say  that  I  feel  highly  flattered  by  this  mark  of  attention,  and  that 
I  would  with  much  pleasure  attend  and  join  in  the  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  an  old  shipmate,  were  it  not  ac  present  out  of  my  power  to  do  so. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

George  Read. 

{From  LiEuiENANT  Madry,  United  States  Navy.) 

Observatory,  Washxnqton,  June  3,  1857 
Gentlemen  :-It  will  not,  I  regret  to  say,  be  in  my  power  to  participate  with 

you  ,n  the  melancholy  satisfaction  of  rendering  homage  to  the  merits  of  our 

Illustrious  fellow-countryman,  the  late  Dr.  Kane. 

Did  not  occupations  and  engagements  which"lam  not  at  liberty  to  set  aside 

prevent,  I  would  surely  be  with  you  on  Friday  evening. 

Respectfully,  &c., 
M.  F.  Maury. 

{From  Major-General  John  E.  Wool,  United  States  Army.) 

Head-Quaiiters,  Department  of  the  East,  ) 
Troy,  N.Y.,  Junes,  1857       J 
^  Gentlemen  .-I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  invitation  of  the  1st  instant  to 
jom  m  the  coremonies  intended  as  a  testimony  of  the  high  appreciation  onter- 
uined  by  the  free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  their 
lamente.1   and   distinguished   brother,    Dr.  Elisha    K.  Kane,  to   take  place  on 
iridny  evening,  June  5.  ' 

I  deeply  regret  that  my  official  duties  will  not  permit  me  to  avail  mvself  of  the 
opportunity  of  doing  honor  to  the  memory  of  your  brother,  who  was' no  less  dis- 
tinguished than  he  rendered  great  and  important  services  to  his  country. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
John  E.  Wool,  U.  S.  Army. 

{From  Hon.  Jodqe  Kane,  P.  M..  father  of  Dr.  Kane.) 

n  „  Philadelphia,  Gth  June,  1857. 

Gentlemen  :-My  absence  from  home  when  your  note  of  invitation  arrived 
prevented  my  receiving  it  till  this  morning;  but  I  cannot  omit  to  thank  you  for 
i  ,  and  to  say  how  deeply  I  have  been  moved  by  the  justly  fraternal  feeli,,:  .vhieh 
.  represents.  I  believe  I  can  speak  of  Dr.  Kano  as  ho  was,  for  I  knew^him  in 
the  n  .it.ons  that  determine  the  judgment  ns  well  as  in  tlm-e  that  affect  the  heart 
I  cannot  suspect  myself  of  a  father's  partiality  when  I  say  that  our  order  never 
n...  a  ,r:g„,rr  representative,— (hat  there  was  never  a  bettor  son  or  brother  a 
truer  friend,  n  purer  man,  or  a  more  expanded  and  self-sacrificing  philanthropist. 


m 

■ 


398 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


That  his  memory  is  honored  by  those  who  can  emulate  his  virtues,  and  by  that 
brotherhood  especially  which  adopts  them  as  its  symbols,  gives  assurance  that  he 
did  not  live  or  die  in  vain.  With  grateful  respect, 

I  am,  gentlemen. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  K.  Kane. 


'tl 


S 


< 

(a 


< 

< 

Z 

a 

X 
K 

Q 


(From  C.  Edwards  Lester,  Esq.) 

Spencertown,  Columbia  County,  New  York,  June  4,  1857. 

Gentlemen  and  Brothers  : — I  thank  you  for  remembering  me  in  connection 
with  the  honors  you  are  to  show  to  the  memory  and  achievements  of  our  beloved 
and  heroic  brother.  Dr.  Kane.     I  shall  be  with  you  if  I  can. 

No  more  befitting  or  touching  occasion  could  occur  to  call  out  our  friendship 
or  our  grief.  Thousands  knew  him  as  a  friend:  the  uncounted  hosts  of  the 
Masonic  Fraternity  knew  him  as  a  brother.  His  contributions  to  science  laid  the 
whole  world  under  obligation  ;  his  writings  embellish  literature  ;  while  his  whole 
life  is  radiant  with  the  divine  spirit  of  humanity.  We  should  feel  a  new  glow  of 
gratitude  and  pleasure  as  we  commemorate  his  virtues.  lie  was  a  cherished 
member  of  a  brotherhood  on  which  the  sun  mid  the  stars  never  go  down  ;  and 
from  the  genial  air  of  our  lodge-rooms  and  firesides  lie  carried  our  banner  of 
peace  to  the  frozen  children  of  the  Pole.  Such  are  the  men  who  have  transmitted 
the  torch  of  light  from  age  to  age. 

Most  faithfully,  yours, 

C.  Edwards  Lester. 


(From  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  Mass.) 

Medford,  Mass.,  June  4,  1857. 
Gentlemen: — Your  letter  of  the  1st  has  been  forwarded  to  me  at  this  place, 
inviting  me  to  attend  the  commemoration-ceremonies  in  honor  of  the  late  lamented 
Dr.  Kane,  on  the  evening  of  the  5th,  under  the  auspices  of  the  "  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York."  I  much  regret  that  it  is  not  iu  my 
power  to  be  present  on  the  interesting  occasion. 

I  remain,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Edward  Everett. 


(FVom  Washington  Irving,  Esq.) 

SuNNYSiDE,  June  5,  1857. 
Gentlemen  : — Your  obliging  invitation  did  not  reach  mo  until  last  evening.     I 
regret  to  say  that  engagements  which  detain  mo  in  the  country  will  prevent  my 
attendance  at  the  interesting  ceremonies  with  which  you  propose  to  testify  youf 
high  appreciation  of  the  merits  of  our  illustrious  and  lamented  countryman. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  OOHgru  and  liUmvie  nrrvaTit, 

Washington  Irving. 


DR.    ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


399 


KTLoa  Lester. 


(From  Fitz-Greenk  Halleck,  Esq.) 

Guilford,  Connecticut,  July  18,  1857. 
Gentlemen  :-I  deeply  regret  that  your  letter,  inviting  me  to  be  present  on  the 
5th  June  ultimo,  at  the  ceremonies,  under  your  auspices,  in  remembrance  of  the 
late  Dr.  Kane,  did  not  reach  mo  in  time  to  enable  me  to  avail  myself  of  its  cour- 
tesy and  to  unite  with  you  in  doing  public  homage  to  the  memory  of  a  good  and 
gallant  brother  of  the  brotherhood  you  represent,  whose  life  was  on  honor  to  that 
Brotherhood  and  to  humanity,  and  whose  heroism  of  head  and  heart  and  hand 
was  worthy  of  all  homage. 

With  grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment  your  invitation  paid  me  I 
am,  gentlemen,  ' 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Fitz-Greene  Halleck. 


(From  Joseph  D.  Evans,  P.  G.  M.) 

Nfw  York,  Jun»  5,  1857. 
^  Brethren  :— I  have  the  honor  of  receiving  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  and 
join  in  the  tribute  of  respect  proposed  to  be  paid  to  our  lamented  and  distinguished 
brother,  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  by  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of  this  State. 

Although  I  find  it  impossible  to  be  present  this  evening  to  participate  in  the 
ceremonies  of  the  occasion,  I  nevertheless  fully  sympathise  with  you  and  the 
brotherhood  generally  in  our  irreparable  loss. 

Dr.  Kane  not  y  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  countrymen  and  with 
the  world  at  large,  but,  by  the  noblo  traits  of  his  social  and  moral  character,  won 
the  affection  and  respect  of  his  Masonic  brethren. 

It  is  due  to  his  memory  that  tlie  Fraternity  generally  should  do  honor  to  so 
estimable  a  gentleman  and  so  true  and  warm-hearted  a  Mason. 

With  the  highest  respect,  I  remain,  dear  brethren, 
Yours,  truly  and  fraternally, 

Joseph  D.  Evans. 


ill 


GTON   IrVINO. 


(From  R.  L.  Sohoonjiaker,  Grand  Chaplain.) 

Grand  Lodge  Room,  New  York,  June  4,  1857. 
WoRSHiPFOL  Brothers:— I  have  roc  ived  your  kind  communication  of  yester- 
day, inviting  me  to  be  present  and  officiate  on  the  occasion  of  the  funeral  obsequies 
to  be  observed  in  memory  of  our  beloved  and  deceased  brother.  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  , 
in  the  church  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin,  of  this  city.  It  will  afford  me  high  satis- 
faction to  bo  present  with  you  on  that  occasion,  so  deeply  interesting  to  us  as 
American  citizens,  but  especially  as  members  of  the  great  Masonic  Fraternity. 
It  is  well  thus  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  one  who  has  so  deservedly  gained  the 
.t:..|i.,. I ,..,.,  .,.,.„,,  „J,.^^  r.,  ,1,,.  rr--!ri  ivi  ttt-  ui-tiuguj-ncti  rciciitinu  .iitainmonts, 
for  his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance  in  the  prosecution  of  those  high 


HIS 

m 

i 


f4 


400 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


purposes  upon  which  his  heart  was  fixed,  for  his  sterling  and  excellent  qualities 
as  a  man,  and  his  warm  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  our  beloved  and  cherished 
institution. 

May  it  be  our  aim  to  emulate  him  in  all  those  respects,  and  with  him  at  last 
end  our  weary  pilgrimage  here  on  earth  in  a  triumphant  faith  in  God  ! 

Truly  and  fraternally,  yours, 

11.  L.  SCHOONMAKEE, 

Grand  Chaplain, 


fit 


< 

u. 
u. 

< 

Z 
ci 

5 

H 

0 


(Ft  >  .  JOHN  D.  Wi:,LAiiD,  p.  G.  M.) 

New  YottK,  June  4,  1857. 

Gentlemen  : — Should  it  be  possible  for  me  to  remain  in  town,  it  will  afford  me 
very  great  satisfaction  to  accept  the  invitation  with  which  1  have  been  honored, 
and  join  in  the  Masonic  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  our  departed 
brother.  Dr.  Elisha  K.  Kane. 

There  are  low  men  of  our  age  who,  in  my  estimation,  are  so  worthy  of  every 
public  and  «very  Masonic  honor.  His  whole  life  was  an  exemplification  of  the 
beautiful  tenets  of  our  noble  institution.  The  principles  of  our  Order  took  deep 
root  in  his  heart ;  they  were  entwined  in  all  his  affections,  and  they  brought  forth 
fruit  in  all  his  acts.  How  remarkably  is  this  exhibited,  to  the  eye  of  a  Mason, 
in  his  last  great  contribution  to  the  literature  of  our  country,— his  touching  nar- 
rative of  the  Expedition  that  he  commanded !  How  often,  by  little  remarks  and 
by  the  narration  of  little  incidents,  does  he  show  his  attachment  to  Free  Masonry  1 
How  ready  was  he  to  peril  life  in  the  discharge  of  duty  and  for  the  relief  of  a 
brother!  And  how  proud  was  ho  to  bear  the  "  Masonic  Banner,"  beside  the  stars 
and  stripes  of  our  p;loiious  Union,  to  the  unknown  regions  of  the  North,  and 
plant  it,  amid  eternal  ice  and  snows,  where  the  footsteps  of  civilized  man  had 
never  before  trod ! 

But  1  am  saying  more  than  I  intended.     I  meant  simply  to  express  this  senti- 
ment, which  we  all  feel  in  our  hearts  : — that  the  rendering  of  these  public  Masonic 
honors  is  alike  duo  to  ourselves  and  to  the  moiuory  of  the  illustrious  dead. 
Very  respectfully  and  fraternally,  yours, 

John  D.  Willaed. 


{From  Rob  Moeiis,  Kentuchj.) 

LooGFTON,  Kkntitcky,  Juno  5,  1857. 

SiES  AND  Brothers  : — It  is  with  profound  regret  that  I  have  to  express  to  you 
my  inability  to  accept  your  kind  invitation  of  the  1st  instant.  To  join  in  a 
tribute  of  respect  to  one  whose  character  I  have  so  much  admired  as  Dv.  Kane's 
were  a  duty  I  should  make  any  reasonable  sacrifice  to  perform, — how  much  more 
to  unite  with  so  ciistinguished  a  body  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  as  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  New  York  ;  but  other  engagements  render  it  impossible. 

Aiinw  rac  to  say  to  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Committee,  and  through  you  to  the 


DR.    ELI  SUA    KENT    KANE. 


401 


r  D.  WiLLARD. 


illustrious  body  you  represent,  that  avo  Western  nnd  Southern  Masons  have  fol- 
lowed the  body  of  Bi'other  KHhU:!  K.  Kane  from  New  Orleans,  where  it  was  landed, 
to  the  point  which  separates  the  Eastern  from  the  Western  States.  At  every  land- 
ing on  the  great  rivers,  at  every  railway-station  on  our  iron  roads,  crowds  of 
loving  Masons  have  gathered  around  that  body,  weeping  that  one  so  young  should 
have  thus  passed  beyond  us,  triun.phing  tliat  his  departure  was  not  too  soon  for 
his  own  glory.  Thus  we  claim  that,  though  we  caunot  bo  with  you  in  person,  we 
will  not  be  absent  in  admiration  and  respect. 

For  myself,  my  admiration  for  the  intrepid  navigator  has  made  his  history  a 
familiar  theme  in  my  household.     My  children  were  taught  to  follow  him  upon 
his  dangerous  track,  and  they  rejoiced  with  him  upon  his  glorious  return.    As  far 
back  as  1853,  I  ventured  to  express  that  admiration  publicly  in  these  poor  words 
The  prophecy  truly  has  failed ;  but  the  sentiment  is  eternal.     "  Sir  John  Frank- 
lin, whose  protracted  absence  upon   an  expedition  to  the  northern  coasts  of 
America  has  aroused  the  solicitude  of  the  world,  is  a  Free  Mason.     Dr.  E.  K. 
Kane,  the  young  and  enthusiastic  traveller,  whose  recent  departure  in  search  of 
Franklin  has  been  chronicled  throughout  the  land,  is  bound  in  the  same  holy  com- 
munion, and  in  token  thereof  bears  our  symbol  of  the  square  and  compass  upon 
his  foresail.     What  a  meeting  will  it  be,  when,  amidst  Arctic  night  and  desolation, 
these  two  Masons  shall  come  together  and  grasp  the  brotherly  hand  !" 

"  Midst  Polar  snows  and  solitude. 

Eight  weary  years  the  voyager  lies 
Ice-bound  upon  the  frozen  flood, 

Till  expectation  vanishes. 
Ah  1  many  a  hopeful  tear  is  shed 
For  him  thus  number'd  with  the  dead. 

•'  Midst  joys  of  home  and  well-earn'd  fame, 
Young,  healthful,  honor'd,  there  is  one 
Who  pines  to  win  a  nobler  name. 
And  feels  his  glory  but  begun  : 
His  heart  is  with  the  voyager  lost 
Midst  Polar  solitude  and  frost. 

"  Is  there  some  chain  of  sympathy 

Flung  thus  across  the  frozen  seas  ? 
Is  there  some  strange,  mysterious  tie 

That  joins  these  daring  men?  There  is  I 
This,  honor'd,  healthful,  free  from  want, 
Is  bound  to  that  in  covenant ! 

"For  though  these  twain  have  never  met. 
To  press  the  hand  or  join  the  heart, 
In  unison  their  spirits  beat, 
Brothers  in  the  Masonic  art  I 

Qnp  in  ♦li.i  b'-^nt*  .^f  J--.  . 1  , ,« 

T 1  ^.i-  !..,.!!   .,!  J.. J  „,„,  p^ace. 

One  in  the  hour  of  deep  distress. 
20 


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MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OP 


"  Tho  voice  from  oflf  the  frozen  flood 

Appeals  in  trumpet-tones  for  aid : 
'Tis  heard,  'tis  answer'd :  swift  abroad 

The  flag  is  flung,  the  sail  is  spread, — 
That  flag,  that  sail,  on  which  we  see 
The  emblems  of  Free  Masonry. 

"Away  on  glorious  errand  now, 

Thou  hero  of  a  sense  of  right ! 
Success  be  on  thy  gallant  prow. 

Thou  greater  than  the  sons  of  might! 
Thy  flag  the  banner  of  the  Free, 
Oh,  may  it  lead  to  victory  ! 

"  And  by  that  symbol,  best  of  those 
Time-honor'd  on  our  ancient  wall, — 
And  by  the  prayer  that  ceaseless  flows 

Upward  from  every  mystic  hall, — 
And  by  thine  own  stout  heart  and  hand 
Known,  mark'd,  and  loved  in  every  land, — 

"  Thou  shall  succeed :  his  di'ooping  eye 

Shall  catch  thy  banner  broad  and  bright ; 
Those  symbols  he  shall  yet  descry 
And  know  a  brother  in  the  sight. 
Ah  !  noble  pair,  who  happier  then 
Of  those  two  daring,  dauntless  men  ?" 

Very  fraternally,  yours, 

Rob  Morris. 


{From  N.  P.  Willis.) 

Idlewild,  June  4,  1857. 
Gentlemen  : — I  received  your  polite  and  honoring  invitation  to-day,  and  am 
exceedingly  sorry  that  it  is  out  of  my  power  to  accept  it.     The  ceremony  is  one 
which  everyway  interests  my  respect  and  sympathies  ;  and  I  rejoice  in  witnessing 
the  tribute  to  such  a  man,  paid  by  so  estimable  and  honorable  a  society. 

With  thanks  for  the  compliment  to  myself  expressed  in  your  valued  invitation, 
I  remain,  gentlemen, 

Yours,  with  highest  respect, 

N.  P.  Willis. 


DR.   ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


403 


A  HYMN, 

WRITTEN  BY  BRO.  GEO.  P.  MORRIS,  WAS  THEN  SUNQ 
BY  MRS.  SPROSTON,  MISS  GEER,  AND  MESSRS.  TAYLOR  AND  WILLIAMS. 
"Man  (lieth  and  wasteth  away, 

And  where  is  he  ?"     Hark !  from  the  akies 
I  hear  a  voice  answer  p,nd  say, 

"  The  spirit  of  man  never  dies  : 
His  body,  which  came  from  the  earth, 

Must  mingle  again  with  the  sod  ; 
But  his  soul,  which  in  heaven  had  birth, 

Returns  to  the  bosom  of  God." 

The  sky  will  be  burnt  as  a  scroll. 

The  earth,  wrapt  in  flames,  will  expire ; 
But,  freed  from  all  shackle j,  the  soul 

Will  rise  in  the  midst  of  the  fire. 
Then,  brothers,  mourn  not  for  the  dead, 

Who  rest  from  their  labors,  forgiven : 
Learn  this,  from  your  Bible,  instead: — 

The  grave  is  the  gateway  to  heaven. 

0  Lord  God  Almighty !  to  thee 

We  turn  as  our  solace  above ; 
The  waters  may  fail  from  the  sea. 

But  not  from  thy  fountains  of  love. 
Oh,  teach  us  thy  will  to  obey, 

And  sing,  with  one  heart  and  accord, 
"  The  Lord  gives ;  the  Lord  takes  away  ; 

And  praised  bo  the  name  of  the  Lord  !" 

The  M.  W.  Grand  luaster  then  introduced  the  distinguished  orator, 
Hon.  Brottffer  E.  W.  Andrews,  who  proceeded,  for  more  than  an  hour, 
to  delineate  the  life  and  portray  the  character  of  our  lamented  Brother 
Kane,— the  audience  testifying  their  deep  interest  in  the  theme  by  the 
most  undivided  and  rapt  attention,  only  broken  by  an  occasional  murmur 
of  suppressed  applause  at  the  impassioned  eloquence  of  the  speaker. 

At  the  close  of  the  eulogy  the  bonedictiop  was  fonounccd  by  the 
Grand  Chaplain,  Rt.  W.  and  Rev.  John  Gray,  and  the  audience  dis- 
persed  as  the  rich,  full  harmony  of  the  Governmental  Band  resounded 
through  the  arches  above  in  a  sad  requiem  to  the  memory  of  Kane. 


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MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


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(                                    'i 

EULOGY. 

BY  HON.  BROTHER  E.  W.  ANDREWS. 

Most  Worship/ul  Grand  Master,  Brethren  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  of 
our  Ancient  and  Honorable  Fraternity  yenerally. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :— We  are  assembled  within  these  sacred 
walls  to-night  to  render  our  humble  tribute  of  affection  and  honor  to  the 
memory  of  our  lamented  brother,  Dr.  Kane.  Rarely  has  a  death  occurred 
which  has  touched  with  so  deep  and  universal  a  sorrow  the  heart  of  man. 
Cut  down  in  the  morning  of  his  active  life,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  career 
which  had  already  given  him  place  among  the  most  beloved  and  hor;ored 
of  men,  and  which  was  rich,  almost  beyond  parallel,  in  its  promise  for 
the  future,  his  untimely  fall  has  called  forth  the  strongest  and  tenderest 
expressions  of  grief  throughout  the  civilized  world. 

Science  mourns  the  loss  of  one  of  her  most  earnest  and  successful 
votaries ;  Philanthropy  weeps  the  death  of  one  who  was  ever  eager  to 
obey  her  heavenly  behests;  and  Rel-^ion,  sad  at  the  necessary  sacrifice 
of  such  a  life,  but  joyful  at  the  signal  triumph  of  her  own  divine  power 
in  his  peaceful  death^  stands  by  his  tomb  pointing  to  the  skies. 

And;  brethren,  our  own  venerable  Order,  whose  mystic  tie  spans  the 
earth,  binding  in  sweet  and  sacred  unison  thousands  of  hearts  in  every 
aWmQ,— our  own  venerable  Order,  ever  the  true  friend  and  ally  of  Science, 
Philanthropy,  and  Religion, — everywhere  bow  their  heads  in  grief,  lament- 
ing the  early  fall  of  a  brother  whose  life,  already  illustrious  by  its  beau- 
tiful harmony  with  our  pure  and  exalted  principles,  promised  to  give 
them  in  the  future  even  a  brighter  illustration,  a  more  commanding 
power. 

Under  this  impulse  of  grief,  we  meet  in  "  a  Lodge  of  Sorrow"  to- 
night. We  meet  to  spend  this  hour  in  the  calni  though  mournful  con- 
tcHiplation  of  a  history  crowded  during  its  bii<!f  continuance  with  the 
mjst  interesting  events,  marked  by  the  noblest  deeds,  adorned  by  the 
purest  virtues.  We  meet  not  to  praise  the  dead  :  our  praise  could  add 
not  the  faintest  ray  to  the  brightness  that  encircles  his  memory;  we 
meet  rather  to  study  a  life  which  we  laay  safely  imitate, — a  character 
formed  to  give  higher  elevation  and  dignity  to  our  nature, — a  death  that 
may  teach  us  how  to  die. 

)|«  «  >|c  9|(  jK  iK 

^For  want  of  space,  a  portion  of  this  beautiful  eulogy  is  necessarily 
omitted :  the  extracts  which  are  here  given  will,  we  fear,  scarcely  do 
justice  to  the  distinguished  orator. — Publishers.'] 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


405 


A  few  days  before  the  sailing  of  the  Expedition,  the  fact  was 
announced  to  Arcana  Lodge,  of  this  city,  that  Dr.  Kane  was  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  This  announcement  produced  a  deep  sen- 
sation among  the  members,  and  resolutions  expressive  of  their  high 
admiration  of  his  character,  and  their  profound  sympathy  with  his 
generous  self-sacrificing  plans  and  labors  for  the  rescue  of  a  lost  brother, 
were  unanimously  adopted  and  transmitted  to  him  in  Philadelphia.  He 
returned  the  following  reply: — 

Philadelphia,  May  12,  1853. 
Dear  Sir  and  Brother  :— I  have  received  your  eloquent  letter  enclosing  the 
resolutions  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  Arcana  Lodge.  These  resolu- 
tions, expressive  of  the  sympathy  of  our  brethren  with  the  object  of  the  expedi- 
tion under  my  command,  are  to  me  especially  pleasing.  I  shall  communicate 
them  formally  to  tl  e  officers  and  men,  as  an  indication  of  valued  sympathy  at 
home,  aL'd  a  useful  stimulus  in  the  search  after  our  lost  brother,  Sir  John  Franklin. 

I  ha\e  the  honor  to  be. 

Faithfully,  your  friend  and  brother, 

E.  K.  Kane. 

To  Sidney  Kopman,  Sec'y  Arcana  Lodge. 

On  the  evening  of  the  80th  of  May,  1853,  being  the  night  previous 
to  his  sailing,  the  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York,  and  a 
large  number  of  the  personal  friends  of  Dr.  Kane,  assembled  in  this 
city  to  testify  their  high  appreciation  of  his  character,  and  to  express 
their  deep  sympathy  with  his  heroic  purpose  of  Christian  philanthropy 
in  again  venturing  forth  amidst  the  perils  of  an  Arctic  voyage.  Judge 
Kane,  the  father  of  Dr.  Kane,  Henry  Grinnell,  and  other  distinguished 
gentlemen,  were  present.  Dr.  Kane  was  seated,  during  the  evening,  by 
the  side  of  the  31.  W.  Grand  Master ;  Masonic  exercises  of  an  appro- 
priate and  interesting  character  were  performed.  Among  these  was  an 
addrcs?  to  Dr.  Kane  by  the  Deputy  Grand  Master,  embodying,  in  the 
most  eloquent  and  touching  language,  the  sentiments  which  the  body 
entertained  toward  their  distinguished  guest.  To  this  address  Dr.  Kane 
replied  in  the  following  appropriate  and  beautiful  terms : — 

"  In  behalf  of  myself  and  my  associates  in  the  American  Arctic 
Expedition,  I  thank  you,  sir,  most  cordially,  for  the  tone  and  language 
of  your  very  appropriate  and  feeling  address,  and  the  pleasure  I  have  ex- 
perienced  in,  hearing  it.  With  regard  to  your  remarks  directly  associ- 
ated with  my  name,  I  should  be  embarrassed  could  I  not  refuse  to  believe 
them  addressed  to  me  in  any  other  capacity  than  that  of  the  representative 


III 


40G 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


of  a  cause  which  perhaps  may  claim  to  associate  Christian  charity  with 
American  enterprise, — the  attempt  to  save  a  <j;allant  ofiicor  and  his  fellows 
from  a  dreadful  death,  without  inquiring  whether  ho  or  they  and  our- 
selves are  citizens  of  the  same  or  of  another  race,  or  clinic,  or  nation. 
Worshipful,  I  have  heard  upon  this  floor  to-night  our  party  characterized 
as  a  IMasonic  expedition.  And  is  it  not  this  ?  And  is  its  work  not 
substantial  3IasonryV  Are  you,  sir,  or  you,  brothers,  here,  that  aro 
athered  around  me,  are  we  blindly  attached  to  this  or  that  ritual 
of  this  or  that  form  or  order  of  the  Masonic  institution  ?  Say,  is 
it  not  rather  that  we  see  reflected  in  Free  Masonry  the  cause  of  free 
brotherhood  throughout  the  world,  and  that  our  signs  and  our  symbols, 
our  tokens,  legends,  and  pass-words,  arc  only  honorable  in  our  eyes,  and 
honored  because  they  arc  a  language  in  which  aff'ection  can  securely 
speak  to  sympathy,  and  humanity  safely  join  hands  with  honor  ? 

"  Brethren,  we  are  called  in  our  day,  perhaps,  to  make  3Iasonry  what  it 
should  bo, — not  a  sectarian  society,  to  garb,  or  rank,  or  enroll  men,  to 
separate  them  from  their  follows,  but  a  bond  to  unite  the  good  and  truo 
in  a  common  union  for  the  common  defence  and  welfare  of  all  who  are 
good  and  true  men.  Our  brother  Franklin,  he  was  one  who  ruled  his 
conduct  by  the  compass  and  the  square,  and  the  accents  of  woo  never 
for  him  fell  on  an  unpitying  ear.  It  may  be  he  cannot  hear  your  voice 
to-night,  calling  to  him,  '  Brother,  be  of  good  cheer.'  ]Jut  there  aro 
others  living — other  Franklins  yet  to  live  and  to  be  born — whom  your 
example  and  your  sympathy  will  help  to  encourage  and  excite  to  emulate 
his  example  when  they  too  peril  their  lives  for  the  advantage  and 
advancement  of  their  species.  These  will  not  fall  unnoticed  ;  they  shall 
not  shrink  while  a  brother's  outstretched  hand  can  save  them.  The 
Mason,  the  true  man, — wherever  is  the  Grand  Lodge  that  the  Most  Wor- 
shipful has  built  up  for  our  habitation,  wherever  is  it  that  the  cry  of 
afiliction  is  heard, — hastens  to  the  rescue  of  the  widow's  son." 


Such  are  the  sentiments  that  reflect,  in  true  colors,  the  character  of 
Dr.  Kane  as  a  man,  a  Mason,  a  Christian ! 

At  the  close  of  this  address,  a  delegation  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
New  Jersey  was  presented  to  Dr.  Kane,  who  communicated  to  him  reso- 
lutions which  had  been  adopted  by  that  body,  expressing  its  warmest 
sympathies  with  the  holy  enterprise  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  giving 
to  him,  "as  a  Mason,  on  a  worthy  brother  Mason's  errand,  and  to  his 
officers  and  men,  an  aff'ectionate  God-speed  on  their  voj-age."  To  this 
communication  Dr.  Kane  made  a  brief  but  thrilling  reply,  and  the  meet- 


DR.    ELISHA   KENT   KANE. 


407 


!  character  of 


ind  Lodge  of 
d  to  him  reso- 


ng  soon  after  adjourned.  The  whole  scene  was  one  of  deep  and  tender 
ant  cst,-one  the  m.pression  of  which  can  never  fade  from  the  hearts 
of  those  who  had  the  privilege  to  witness  it.  As  the  brethren  gathered 
around  the  dopart.ng  hero  to  give  hi.n  the  farewell  hand,  many'  man  y 
breast  heavo.l  w.th  deep  emotion.  nn,l  n..ny  a  manly  cheek  was  wet  w  h 
he  e  0  brotherly  affection.  All  felt  that  it  was  '  .  trutk,  the  hand 
a  h^oth.r  they  graspod,-of  a  true  man,-a  faithful  Mason,-a  n,e„.ber  of 
a  fann  y  whose  children  are  bound  together  '<  by  a  mystic  cord,  who 
every  thread  is  woven  in  the  loom  of  Love  "  ' 

The  next  morning  ho  snilod.     Ifis  departure  was  an  event  which, 
as  you  well  know  cxcuod  a  deep   infrost  through  the  nation.     Frcn 
thousands  of  fam.ly  altars  and  ten  thousand  silent  hearts  there  went  up 
that  mornmg  intense  aspirations  to  the  Cod  of  the  sea  and  the  land 
invoking  h,s  watchful   care  over  the   fearless  mariner.     Vast  crowds 
gathered  on  the    battery  and  on  the  wharves  to  take  a  parting  look  a 
the  adventurous  bng,  her  honored  con.mander  and  galhvnt  crew      The 
waters  of  our  spacious  bay  everywhere  swarn.ed  with  steamers  and  sailing, 
craft  of  every  descnptum,  bearing  the  flags  and  emblems  of  ^Lnsonr? 
and  bidding  God-speed  to  the  calm  but  determined  and  noble  banj 
Irue  It  was  no  novelty  to  see  a  vessel  go  forth  from  these  secure  and 
beautifu    waters  to  a  voyage  upon  the  great  deep.     Ships  of  almost 
every  nation  ot  the  earth  are  daily  to  be  seen  borne  away,  by  the  breezes 
of  heaven,  from  this  port  to  different  seas  and  the  remotest  climes  •  but 
here  was  not  one  among  the  thousands  who  gazed  that  morning  upoa 
the  httle  brig  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  tons,  manned  by  a  crew  of 
only  e,ghteen  men,  as  she  slowly  moved  down  the  bay,  who  did  not  feel 
that  the  sight  was  noble  and  august;  there  was  not  one  who  was  not 
conscious  of  unusual  emotions  at  that  hour  and  at  that  sight      There 
was  mora   sublimity  in  it.     It  was  a  triumph  of  what  is  great  and  pure 
and  Godlike  in  our  nature.     It  was  the  commencement  of  a  voyage,  not 
for  the  gains  of  commerce,  nor  for  the  crimson  glories  of  war,  nor  yet 
for  the  advancement  of  science,  but  the  commencement  of  a  vovajre  of 
ove,-a  voyage  for  the  rescue  of  a  band  of  strangers  of  a  distant  nation 
from  a  dreary  grave.     It  was  a  beautiful,  an  impressive  recognition  of 
he  worth  of  man  as  man,-a  noble  tribute  offered  to  the  transcendent 
ties  of  our  humanity,-a  deed  of  lofty  charity  for  coming  ages  to  ponder 
upon  and  emulate.  ^ 

At  length,  amid  salutes  and  cheers  of  farewell,  they  cast  off  from  th« 
steamer,  and  were  soon  out  upon  the  Atlantic,  ploughing  their  w.. 
toward  the  eternal  winters  of  the  North.     Their  destination  was  to  tj"e 


408 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


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highest  penetrable  point  of  BaflBn's  Bay,  and  from  thence,  by  means  of 
dog-sledges,  to  attempt  a  search  for  the  missing  expedition  by  following 
the  trend  of  the  coast. 

****** 
After  gazing  for  some  time  in  silence  on  the  scene,  [speaking  of  the 
open  Polar  sea,]  and  remembering  that  the  hour  was  not  only  one  of 
triumph  for  his  noble  commander,  but  for  the  Republic  he  represented, 
Mr.  Morton  raised  upon  the  summit  of  the  cliff  where  he  stood  the 
stars  and  stripes,— the  flag  of  our  Union.  This  flag  Dr.  Kane  calls 
"  The  Grinnell  Flag  of  the  Antarctic,— a  well-cherished  little 
relic  which  had  now  followed  me  on  two  Polar  voyages.  This  flao-  had 
been  saved  from  the  wreck  of  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  Peacock  when 
she  stranded  off  the  Columbia  River.  It  had  accompanied  Commander 
Wilkes  in  his  far-southern  discovery  of  an  Antarctic  continent.  It  was 
now  its  strange  destiny  to  float  over  the  highest  northern  land,  not  only 
^,f  America,  but  of  our  globe.  Side  by  side  with  this  flag  were  placed 
our  own  Masonic  emblems  of  the  compass  and  the  square.  Here, 
mingling  their  folds,  they  floated  from  the  black  cliff  over  the  dark, 
rock-shadowed  waters  which  rolled  up  and  broke  in  white  caps  at  its 
base."  By  the  kindness  of  IMr.  Grinnell,  I  am  able  to-night  to  unfurl 
that  memorable  little  flag  in  your  presence, — "  a  flag  which,"  in  the 
language  of  Mr.  Grinnell,  in  his  note  accompanying  the  flag  when  he 
sent  it  to  me,  "  has  been  farther  South  and  twice  farther  North  than 
any  other  in  existence."  Hero  it  is,  [the  flag  was  here  unfurled  by 
Mr.  A. ;]  and  I  am  authorized  by  its  distinguished  owner  to  say  that 
whoever  will  plant  this  flag  at  any  point  farther  north  than  that  on 
which  Dr.  Kane  planted  it  shall  be  entitled  to  its  possession. 

****** 

I  have  thus  traced  in  its  faintest  outline  the  life  of  our  lamented 
brother.  The  prominent  events  of  his  career  were  of  a  nature  fitted  to 
develop  and  place  in  a  strong  light  the  leading  traits  of  his  chnracter. 
That  these  traits,  as  combined  in  hiiii,  formed  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able men  of  the  age,  is  nowunivcrsally  acknowledged,— one  of  the  truest 
and  noblest  whose  name  adorns  the  page  of  American  biography.  2'he 
nnconqucmlh  encrgi/  of  his  nature  was  one  of  his  most  prominent  and 
striking  tmits.  This  element  of  power  never  failed  him  :  from  his  early 
childhood  it  stamped  his  career.  Although  small  in  size,  (his  ordinary 
weight  being  about  a  hundred  pounds,)  and  with  an  organization  singu- 
larly delicate  and  refined,  yet  ho  exhibited  an  activity,  physical  aud 
mental,  a  capacity  for  labor,  a  power  of  endurance,  a  resoluteness  of 


DR.  ELISHA    KENT    KANE. 


409 


purpose,  nnd  an  iron  will,  such  as  the  stoutest  and  strongest,  the  Goliaths 
of  earth,  have  rarely  shown.     When  an  object  was  before  him  to  the 
accomplishment  of  which  duty  pointed,  he  shrank  from  no  labor,  was 
disheartened  by  no  obstacles,  refused  no  sacriGces.     If  for  the  moment 
baffled,  he  seemed  to  rise  from  his  defeat  in  renovated  strength  to  renew 
the  struggle.     Whether  toiling  up  the  precipices  of  the  Himalayas,  or 
lighting  his  way  through  the  ranks  of  the  embattled  hosts  of  Mexico  or 
contending  amidst  the  wild  war  of  elements  on  a  stormy  Arctic  sea,  or 
from  his  ice-enchained  little  brig,  going  forth  alone  amid  the  darkness 
and  dreariness  of  a  Polar  night  to  secure,  if  it  may  be,  a  mouthful  of 
food  that  can  minister  to  the  strength  of  one  of  his  dying  crew,-,:,Aa^ 
ever  his  purpose,  u-hcrevcr  the  scene  of  his  efforts,-nothing  seemed  to 
daunt  or  discourage  him:    omcard,  straight  onward  to  his  object  he 
directed  his  course,  and,  if  within  the  compass  of  human  power  to  reach 
It,  success  was  the  result.     It  has  been  truly  said,  "Our  victory  is  in 
Its  nobihty  somewhat  as  are  our  enemies  in  their  stren-th."     The  foes 
of  an  Arctic  explorer  are  among  the  most  terrible  that  man  can  encounter; 
and  tnumphantljj  to  meet  them  demands  a  physical  courage,  a  brave 
endurance,  a  moral  heroism,  higher  and  nobler  than  any  battle-field 
whose  scenes  redden  the  page  of  history.     Justly,  therefore,  to  appre- 
ciate  the  mighty  energy  of  his  nature  of  whom  we  speak  we  must  follow 
him  through  the  fearful  conflicts  to  which  he  was  called  in  that  zone  of 
mystery  and  terror.     We  must  see  how  the  mightiest  powers  of  nature 
were  arrayed  against  him;  how  the  wildest  elements  encompassed  him 
with  fatal  arms  of  death;  how  the  sea  raged,  and  the  blinding  snow  fell 
and  the  sun  sank  out  of  sight  for  months,  and  the  mountain-icebergs 
are  seen  in  the  spectral  twilight  approaching  to  crush  his  little  vessel  Fn 
their  mighty  embrace.     We  must  see  "how  contrivance  was  defeated 
by  accident;  how  foresight  proved  insufficient  to  provide;  how  human 
strength  was  wasted  in  attempts  that  failed;"  how  bread  was  wanti.K. 
and  fuel  was  not  found;   how  famine  and  disease  came  with  ghastly 
terrors;  how  the  strong  man  laid  down  despairingly  and  died;  and  then 
how  he  rose  up  against  all  this,  and,  assorting  the  supremacy  of  that 
nature  which  God  had  given  him,  triumphed  over  ail,  and  bore  back 
tho  remnant  of  worn  and  wearied  men  that  was  left  him  to  the  fair 
havens  of  their  homo  in  the  South  !     Well  has  it  been  asked,  "  Are  not 
the  Arctic  explorations  a  Christian  Iliad,  and  is  not  our  Achilles  nobler 
than  Thotis's  son  V 

But  this  controlling  element  of  liis  nature,  while  it  crowded  his  brief 
career  with  brilliant  achievements  and  noblo  results,  yet  shortened  his 


•ill  I! 


11 


m 


410 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


\^jmmr^htm 


u. 

Ui 

< 

Z 

T 

0 


life.  His  constitu  ion,  never  the  most  vigorous,  yielded  nnd  finallv 
gave  way  under  the  overwhelming  burdens  which  his  insatiate  energy 
imposed  upon  it. 

The  intellect  of  Dr.  Kane  was  of  a  high  order.  Quick  in  percepijon, 
rapid  both  in  combination  and  analysis,  sound  in  deduction,  and  power- 
fully retentive  of  memory,  he  acquired  with  great  case,  and  ever  had 
his  acquisitions  at  immediate  disposal.  In  a  high  degree  inquisitive, 
enth  asiastic  in  pursuit,  and  favored  as  he  was  with  abundant  means  of 
early  discipline  and  culture,  the  range  of  his  attainments  was  wide 
and  varied,  especially  in  the  boundless  fields  of  physical  science, — his 
favorite  sphere  of  intellectual  effort.  Although  naturally  impulsive,  yet 
he  exhibited  in  his  career  great  prudence  and  calm  self-reliance ;  and, 
when  the  emergency  demanded  new  resources,  his  fertility  of  invention 
was  wonderful.  He  was  capable  of  the  most  intense  mental  concen- 
tration. No  man,  whenever  investigation  required  it,  was  more 
laborious,  patient,  a'<d  unyielding.  The  paper  he  read  before  the 
j^merican  and  Geographical  Statistical  Society,  already  alluded  to, 
affords  a  fine  illustration  of  his  powers  in  this  direction.  His  con- 
clusions in  regard  to  the  existence  of  an  open  Polar  sea,  therein 
embodied,  he  had  worked  out  by  a  chain  of  induction  as  severe  as 
mathematical  demonstration.  He  no  more  proceeded  on  mere  con- 
jecture than  did  the  immortal  discoverer  of  our  hemisphere  when,  in 
the  face  of  a  scoffing  world,  he  asserted  its  existence.  Indeed,  Dr.  Kane 
may  justly  be  styled  the  Columbus  of  the  Arctic.  His  mind  also  was 
of  that  refined  cast  which  rendered  him  alive  to  true  grandeur  and 
beauty,  and  would  have  enabled  him,  had  he  chosen,  to  range  success- 
fully the  fiowory  jinths  and  tempt  the  untrodden  heights  of  the  literary 
world.  To  nothing  that  unfolded  the  mysterious  purposes  and  illus- 
trated the  exquisite  perfection  of  nature's  handiwork  was  he  ever  indif- 
ferent. Whether  upon  the  ocean  or  the  land,  in  the  torrid  or  the  frigid 
zone, — whether  gazing  in  annized  delight  upon  the  Arctic  aurora  with  its 
start'ingand  beautiful  modification.s  of  light  in  swiftly-varying  succession, 
or  penct'.ating  the  caves  of  his  .iwn  Alloghanios,  and  there  reading  the 
history  of  earth  among  the  hidden  rocks  and  in  the  successive  strata 
of  her  various  formations, — whether  watching  the  silent  growth  of  the 
tiny  flower  that,  under  some  overhanging  cliff  of  eternal  ice,  opens  its 
modest  loaves  to  the  pale  beams  of  a  I'olar  sun,  or  measuring  the  lieavenly 
bodies  in  tluir  distant  spheres,  -^nd  with  mathematical  accuracy  marking 
out  the  paths  along  which  they  fly  in  (heir  impetuous  courses, — whether 
wandering  amidst  the  pyramids  uf  Kgypt  or  through  the  chsm  ruins 


DR.  ELISHA  KENT   KANE. 


ore  wlien,  la 


OS, — whether 
classic  ruins 


411 

of  lovely  Greece,-no  object  of  beauty,  no  scene  of  sublimity,  no  illus- 
tration of  excellence,  no  proof  of  virtue,  that  ever  met  his  eye,  failed  to 
nnnister  pleasure  to  his  soul.     As  we  follow  him  in  his  Arctii  wander- 
ings, surrounded  as  he  often  was  with  horrors  thick  and  dark  enough  to 
overwhehn  an  ordinary  mind,  we  are  astonished  at  the  beautiful,  glorious 
houghts,  mvested  often  with  the  loftiest  poetical  in.agery,  which  abound 
on  th    pages  of  h,s  da.ly  journal.    Liscen  to  his  language  on  one  occasion, 
afterhe  had  been  pacing  the  deck  of  his  little  brig,  as  she  lay  motion^ 
less  ,n  her  icy  chains  and  surrounded  by  the  unbroken  silence  of  her 
niys  erious  solitude  :-<  The  intense  beauty  of  the  Arctic  firmament  can 
hardly  be   imagined.      It  looks  close  above  our  heads,  with  its  stans 
niagnified  in  glory,  and  the  very  planets  twinkling  so  much  as  to  baffle 
h    observations  of  the  astronomer.     I  have  trodden  the  deck  when  the 

ts  companionships;  and,  as  I  looked  on  the  radiant  hemisphere  circli.;: 
above  me  as  if  rendering  worship  to  the  unseen  Centre  of  Light,  I  have 
ejaculated,  '  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  hhn  /'      Vnd 
hen  I    ave  thought  of  the  kindly  world  we  had  left,  with  its  revolnn. 
sunlight   and   shadow,  and    the  other  stars  that   gladden    it  in  thei: 
changes,  and  the  hearts  that  wanned  to  us  there,  till  I  lost  myself  in 
he  memories  of  those  who  arc  not;  and  they  bore  me  back  to  the  stars 
again.  _     Never  have   the  beauties,   the  wonders,  the  terrors  of  tint 
mysterious  circle  of  earth's  surface  been  ,so  fully,  graphically,  and  with 
such  fascinating  power  of  rhetoric  revealed  as  they  are  in  his  "  Aret  c 
Explorations,  '-a  work  which,  while  it  will  ever  awaken  the  hi.-hes 
admiration    or  its  gifted  author,  will  ever  be  invested  with  a  nieland.oly 
nteres    as  the  last   monument  of  his    genius,  reared  with  his  dyin. 
strcii  i*  til,  •'     ^ 

But  the  moraf  ^juaWcs  of  Dr.  Kane  constituted  the  governing,  power 

and  Uie  highest  adornment  of  his  nature;  ..  they  gav^seful  iirX 

0  his  n nghty  energy,  harmony  and  true  wisdom  to  the  workings  of  his 

ofty  in  ellect,  and  brought  his  whole  being  into  unison  with  the  great 

Jaw  01  Love.  '^ 

Brethren,  brightly  and  beautifully  were  the  fundamental  principles 
of  our  rcnrr„il.  OnUr  displayed  in  the  life  of  our  lanicnted'brother 
Never,  perhaps,  were  justice  and  truth  n.oro  perfectly  realized  by 
rnan.  Lvcry  foot  of  the  wall  .hieh  he  built  in  the  temple  was  i! 
the  strictest  conformity  to  the  square  and  the  pluninu.t.  Decention 
nnsropresentation,  unjust  coucoalment,  falsehoo.I,  oppre.s.on,  wroL  in 
every  torn.,  seemed  his  abhorrence.     A  beautiful  instance  of  this  may 


412 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES   OF 


be  found  in  bis  narrative  of  tbe  first  United  States  Grinnell  Expedition. 
It  seems  that  to  a  tract  of  land  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Kane,  while  on 
this  Expedition,  lying  to  tbe  north  of  Wellington  Channel,  Commander 
De  Haven  bad  given  the  name  of  Grinnell.  A  year  afterward,  this  land 
appeared  on  the  English  maps  inscribed  with  the  name  of  **  Prince 
Albert;"  and  the  map  from  the  hydrographer  of  tbe  Admiralty  not  only 
inscribes  "Albert  Land"  on  this  newly-discovered  region,  but  pretends 
to  explain  tbe  error  of  the  American  claim  by  stating,  in  a  note,  that 
"  Baillie  Hamilton  Island  is  the  Grinnell  Land  of  the  American  squad- 
ron." Dr.  Kane — after  demonstrating  from  the  journals  of  the  English 
navigators  themselves  that  the  Americans  were  the  actual  discoverers 
of  this  region,  and  so  demonstrating  it  that  the  hydrographer  of  tbe 
English  Admiralty,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Grinnell,  which  I  have  bad  tbe 
pleasure  of  reading,  has  honorably  acknowledged  their  mistake,  and 
given  assurance  that  hereafter  their  maps  will  be  made  to  correspond  with 
the  facts — proceeds  to  say : — 

"  The  controversy  is  perhaps  of  little  moment.  The  time  has  gone  by  when 
the  mere  sighting  of  a  distant  coast  conferred  on  a  navigator  or  his  monarch 
cither  ownership  of  the  soil  or  a  right  to  govern  its  people :  even  the  planting  of 
a  tlag-stiifF,  ■with  armorial  emblazonments  at  the  top  and  a  record-bottle  below  it, 
does  not  insure  nowadays  a  conceded  title.  Yet  the  comity  of  explorers  has 
adopted  the  rule  of  the  more  scientifio  observej-s  of  nature,  and  holds  it  for  law 
everywhere,  that  he  who  first  sees  and  first  announces  shall  also  give  the  name. 
I  should  bo  sorry  to  withdraw  from  the  extreme  charts  of  Northern  discovery  any 
memorial,  even  an  indirect  one,  of  that  Lady  Sovereign  whose  noble-spirited 
subjects  we  met  in  Lancaster  Sound."  Mark  now  his  ingenuousness,  his  honesty, 
his  love  of  justice  and  truth.  "  It  was  only  hy  accident  that  we  preceded  them,  under 
the  guidance  of  causes  that  can  assert  for  us  little  honor,  since  they  were  beyond  our 
control,  and  we  should  have  been  glad  n  escape  them.  But  we  did  precede  them; 
and  the  most  northern  land  on  the  meridian  of  9t°  West  must  retain,  therefore, 
the  honored  name  which  it  received  from  the  American  commander." 


[in 


I  have  said  that  Dr.  Kano  was  a  man  of  justice.  A  British  reviewer 
has,  I  am  aware,  charged  him  with  an  act  of  flagrant  injustice  toward 
Gndfroy,  one  of  bis  crew.  This  man  had  been  disobedient  and  mutinous 
on  previous  occasions;  now  he  was  in  the  act  of  openly  and  boldly  setting 
at  defiance  the  authority  of  bis  commander,  and  fleeing  from  tbe  ship. 
Dr.  Kano,  standing  on  the  deck,  rai.«iHl  bis  gun  and  fired  upon  him, — 
doing  him,  however,  no  injury.  Subsequently  Godfrey  returned,  and 
was  restored  to  his  place  among  tbe  crew.  Now,  any  man  who,  after 
reading  the  account  of  this  matter  as  given  by  Dr.  Kano  and  confirmed 


DR.    ELISIIA    KENT    KANE. 


413 


by  his  officers  and  men,-aftor  hearing  the  reasons  which  he  boHevod 
rendered  U  h.s  miperative  though  painful  duty  to  adopt  the  course  he 
did   for  the  maintenance  of  that  discipline  of  the  vessel  which  was  vital 

would  blacken  the  memory  of  Washing-ton  for  signing  the  death-warran 
0    the  interesting  Andre,  although  he  firmlv  believed  that  the  safety  of 

^ZLr  "^r  ^'  '''  '''^'^'"^  iiopublic-that  une.,.,jZlce 
ihZ      \     i-  "'''' ''"'  '  ^"'"•"^^"der  more  just  or  generous  toward 

those  under  his  authority;  and  this  is  the  testimony  of  the  oflicers  and 
.uen  who  s  ared  with  him  the  dangers  and  sufferings  of  the  p  ilous 
voyage    and  gathered  around  him,  under  the  poor  "shelter  th'r    d 

hrough  those  dismal  and  interminable  winters;  and  with  quiverin.  1  p 
W^ng  breas,  and  moistened  eye  do  they  speak  of  his  ll.dev^ion; 

cf-sacuface,  h.s  nevor-fa.iing  regard  for  the  welfare  of  his  comrades,  ia 
that  hazardous  search  fur  the  lost. 

Nor  was  ho  less  distinguished  by  our  other  great  principle  of  love. 

Stroig    ad  binding  was  this  cen.ent  of  his  edifice,-p,astic  and  soft  as 

as  the  culptors  adamant  which  it  unites  to  form  the  whole  outwarS 
aspect  ot  his  noble  structure."  Our  brother  fell  a  martyr  to  the  be  le- 
volence  ot  his  nature.  He  died-././  ..  .y  ..._biuse  1  e  .':  d 
rescue  others  from  death.  Hun.an  suffering,  wherever  he  encountered 
^  HI  whatever  accents  he  heard  its  moans,  stirred  up  the  deep  fountains 
ot  luvo  wulnn  lum.     His  career  was  full  of  the  most  touching  manifesta 

Ye       .1  an  r"''f "      l  "^  ■''"""■^  "'  ''^  ''''''"^'^  "^^^  --^^  ^o  flow, 
les  .  la  an  age  of  predominant  avarice  an.l  mechanical  routine,  he  has 

set  us  an  example  ot  as  chivalrous  self-devotion  and  as  lofty,  .  a.nani! 

ous  enterprise  as  ever  illumined  the  tracks  of  the  holiest  champim.  in 

worlds  best  day.     See  him  during  the  long  and  dreary  mlhs  of 

he  second  winter  of  theu-  in.prisonment  in  Kensselaer  Bay' with  every 
officer  and  man  but  one  prostrate  and  helpless  wiHi  disease  Day  an  J 
mght  he  gives  himself  no  rest.  With  the  tenderness  and  gontLess 
and  assiduity  of  a  mother's  love  he  seeks  to  heal  their  diseases^ndT 
v^atc  their  sufferings  by  h.s  uncersing  ministries  of  skill  and  compassion 
Now  we  see  liun  w,th  his  gun,  going  forth  alone  and  toiling  his  way  for 
hours  hrough  the  snow-drifts  and  over  the  iee-eo  .ed  rocks  to  secure 
food  tha  will  not  aggravate  the  disease  of  the  si.,k  and  dving;  and  now 
we  see  h.m  seated  by  the  side  of  the  pale  and  despondin;.  speakin! 
words  of  comfort  and  hope  to  sinking  hearts.     I  know  of  uo  record  of 


414 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES    OF 


hi  . 


>- 

u 


of 

< 

U.' 
< 

2 

or 

K 

Q 


human  kindness  more  beautiful,  more  touching,  none  which  reveals  h 
spirit  in  closer  syniputhy  with  His  <'who  went  about  doing  good,"  than 
does  the  record  of  this  portion  of  the  Arctic  life  of  Dr.  Kane. 

Go  with  me  at  another  time  and  visit  that  lonely  brig.  It  is  the 
month  of  March,  1855.  The  hour  is  midnight.  A  fearful  storm  is 
raging.  The  thermometer  is  at  seventy-eight  degrees  below  the  freezing- 
point.  Dr.  Kane  with  a  portion  of  his  crew  arc  in  their  moss-lined 
cabin  below,  their  thoughts,  it  may  bo,  far  away  with  loved  ones  amid 
the  comforts  of  home.  Suddenly  the  noise  of  footsteps  is  heard  on  the 
deck,  and  the  next  moment  three,  of  a  party  of  eight  who  had  gone 
forth  two  weeks  before  on  an  expedition  of  search  and  survey,  enter  the 
cabin.  Their  looks  are  startling :  trembling  with  weakness,  swollen, 
haggard,  benumbed  with  cold,  and  but  just  able  to  utter  a  few  broken 
words,  their  appearance  tells  of  the  terrible  sufferings  they  have  endured. 
Their  story  is  short  and  frightful.  Weak  and  faint  with  fatigue  and 
hunger,  their  party  were  toiling  their  slow  and  painful  way  back  to  tlio 
brig,  their  only  home  amidst  the  mighty  desolation  around  them,  when 
they  were  overtiiken  by  a  storm  of  fierceness  and  power  unusual  even  in 
that  region  of  tempests.  After  battling  against  the  enraged  cMments 
for  hours,  four  of  their  number,  exhausted  and  frozen,  sank  down  on  the 
ice  to  die.  Of  the  remaining  four,  one  remained  with  his  dying  com- 
rades; the  others,  after  many  hours  (how  many  they  knew  not)  of  wan- 
dering and  stuwggle,  half  delirious,  reached  the  brig.  W/in-e  they  have 
left  their  dying  comnanions  they  cannot  toll.  But,  notwithstanding  the 
terrors  of  the  night,  and  the  faint  prospect  of  success  in  their  fearful 
search,  and  the  probability  o':'  their  own  destruction  in  the  apparently 
desperate  attempt,  yet  the  parpose  of  their  loader  is  instantly  formed, 
and  immediate  preparation  for  the  rescue  is  ordered.  Amid  the  dark- 
ness and  howling  tempest,  the  band,  led  by  their  master-spirit  and  com- 
mending themselves  to  the  protection  of  Ilim  who  rides  on  the  storm, 
start  forth.  Ignorant  how  to  direct  their  course,  yet  tliey  press  forward. 
Hour  after  hour,  through  the  mighty  snow-drifts,  in  face  of  the  blinding 
tempest,  over  the  frozen  and  lacerating  hummocks,  they  struggle  on. 
Twice  does  the  strength  of  their  gallant  commander  give  way,  and  ho 
falls  fainting  upon  the  snow.  At  length,  after  twenty  hours  of  constant 
and  incredible  toil  and  endurance,  and  just  as  they  feel  that  they  must 
yield  and  abandon  their  comrades  to  their  sad  fate,  the  keen  eye  of  the 
Esquimaux  boy,  Hans,  detects  the  faint,  half-filled  track  of  a  .sledge  in 
the  snow;  following  this,  they  soon  perceive  in  the  far  distance  a  little 
signal  fluttering  in  the  wind;  a  nearer  approach  reveals  the  small  tent  of 


DR.    ELISnA    KENT     KANE. 


415 


tlio  lost  party  almost  buried  in  the  snow,  and  from  the  little  flag-staff  on 
the  top  floats  the  ensign  of  the  llepublio,  and,  underneath,  the  Masonic 
Jkuj      Irembling  with  anxiety,  they  approach  the  silent  tent.     Their 
eader,  dreading  to  realize  his  worst  fears,  slowly  works  his  way  throu-^h 
the  surrounding  drifts  and  enters  the  tent  amid  the  darkness  and  omi- 
nous sdence  that  prevail.     There  the  lost  party  lay,  prostrate  and  help- 
ess  on  the  ley  floor.     He  speaks;  his  voice  is  recognised :  it  gives  new 
lite  to  their  benumbed  and  torpid  senses,  and,  with  reawakened  hope  and 
revived  cournge  and  swelling  hearts,  they  exclaim,  "We  knew  you'd 
eome^.  we  knew  you'd  come,  brother !"     And  why  did  they  "  know  he'd 
come    ^     Why  were  they  sustained  by  this  assurance  when  the  cold 
arms  of  Death  were  encircling  them  ?     Ah,  they  knew  that  the  divine 
pnnc.ples  symbolized  by  that  little  Masonic  flng  that  fluttered  over  their 
sinking  heads  were  the  principles  that  ruled  the  heart  and  the  life  of 
their  beloved  and  trusted  leader,  and  that,  under  their  power,  no  dis- 
tance, no  darkness  of  the  night,  no  fierceness  of  the  tempest,  no  terrors 
of  the  cold,  no  obstacles  that  human  strength  and  skill  could  surmount, 
would  preventhis  flying  to  their  rescue  even  at  the  expense  of  the  last 
pulsation  of  his  great  and  benevolent  heart.     "  We  knew  you'd  come  !" 
les   frozen  men  just  ready  to  die,  he  did  come!     Your  faith  in  your 
noble  brother,  the  true  n.an,  the  faithful  Mason,  was  no  delusion.      He 
dul  come!  and  kindly  and  gently  he  bore  you  back  to  your  oabin-home; 
and,  although  one  of  your  number  fell  a  victim  to  the  stern  power  of 
the  frost-king  of  the  NoVth,  and  his  body  now  lies  entombed  in  sight 
of  that  ''deserted  hulk  bound  in  the  deathful  ice/'  ^ou  live  to  tell  with 
what  constancy,  fidelity,  and  beauty  he  illustrated  the  principle  of  love 
in  his  bnet  but  immortal  career. 

Flnal/>/.    Dr.  Kane  distinctly  and  constantly  maintained  the  authority 
of  religion,  and  with  reverent  faith  sought  its  guidance  and  consolations 
Our  honored    Society,   brethren,  maintains  this  open   profession,  in 
carrying  ever  before  us  and  in  our  midst,  with  solemn  reverence,  the 
holy  lhhh,-an  nj>ru  Bible."     Our  lamented  brother  had  faith  in  God 
and  in  _h,s  revealed  word  when  faith  meant  something  and  cost  much. 
Daily  his  httle  band  knelt  around  hi,n  amid  the  Arctic  darkness,  and  he 
ed  them  in  prayer  to  the  Eternal  Throne,     lie  faithfully  tau-^ht  them 
he  great  trutu  of  a  Providence  which  presides  over  the  course  of  events. 
lie  says,  ''Call  it  fatalism,  as  you  ignorantly  may,  there  is  that  in  the 
story  of  every  eventful   life  which   teaches  the  inefficiency  of  human 
means  and  the  present  control  of  a  Supren.e  Agency.     Sec  how  often 
relief  has  come  at  the  moment  of  extremity,  in  forms  strangely  unsou-dit 


416 


MASONIC    OBSEQUIES. 


k*  . 


It 

Ui' 

< 

Z 

K 

0 


almost  at  the  time  unwelcome !  See,  still  more,  how  the  back  has  been 
Btrengthencd  to  its  iucroasing  burdens,  and  the  heart  cheered  by  some 
conscious  influence  of  an  unseen  Power!"  Such  was  his  faith ;  and  his 
life  was  in  beautiful  harmony  with  it.  Strong  and  fearless  before  men, 
calm  and  intrepid  amidst  surrounding  perils,  yet  he  humbly  asks  God's 
help,  and  blushes  not  to  declare  his  humble  trust  in  Him.  When  hastily 
escaping  from  his  vessel,  which  is  threatened  with  instant  destruction 
by  the  crushing  ice,  he  grasps  his  "little  home-Bible," — inscribed,  it  may 
be,  with  a  mother's  hand, — as  the  treasure ^rs^  to  he  secured.  When 
about  forsaking  his  little  ice-enchained  vessel,  which  had  so  long  been 
his  home  in  that  mighty  desolation,  "  he  gathers  all  hands  around"  and 
lifts  up  their  hearts  to  God.  His  faith  ever  sustained  him.  Guided  by 
its  rules,  his  work,  brethren,  from  the  time  that  he  mounted  the  wall  as 
an  apprentice,  to  the  glorious  day  when,  as  a  wise  master-builder,  he  set 
the  key  of  his  arch  and  brought  forth  the  top-stone  of  the  moral  temple 
he  built,  his  work  was  done  and  was  well  done. 

Then,  translated  to  a  place  of  blessedness  and  dignity  in  that  "  temple 
not  built  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  he  still  works,  os  angels 
do, — the  great  God  of  the  Universe  being  the  Grand  Master- Builder. 

Such,  imperfectly,  was  the  life,  and  such  the  character,  of  him  to 
whose  memory  we  have  assembled  to  render  this  humble  tribute  of 
honor.  He  has  gone  to  his  grave,  but  in  the  fulness  of  his  young 
renown.  We  shall  see  him  here  no  more;  but  his  noble  life,  his  thrill- 
ing story,  his  beautiful  example,  his  model  character,  and  his  precious 
memory,  are  our  imperishable  inheritance.  Brethren,  let  us  guard  them 
well  and  emulate  them  as  we  may.  Let  us  enshrine  them  in  the 
deepest  thoughts  of  our  efforts ;  and,  at,'  he  still  works  on  the  walls  of 
the  temple  we  build,  let  us  be  animated  to  greater  diligence  and  high 
fidelity,  that  we  too  may  enter  in  due  time  the  portals  of  that  Upper 
Temple,  whose  proportions  of  harmony,  beauty,  and  infinite  grandeur 
shall  awaken  our  admiration  and  draw  forth  our  increasing  praises 
through  eternal  ages. 


THE   END. 


i  f 


ITEUEOtri'En  iir  i..  joiinson  i  co. 
ruiL^iUKi.riiu. 


3  back  has  been 
heered  by  some 
i  faith  ;  and  his 
ess  before  men, 
ubly  asks  God's 
When  hastily 
ant  destruction 
iscribed,  it  may 
Kured.  When 
d  so  long  been 
ils  around"  and 
in.  Guided  by 
ited  the  wall  as 
-builder,  he  set 
le  moral  temple 

n  that  "  temple 
'orks,  PS  angels 
ster- Builder. 
ter,  of  him  to 
ble  tribute  of 

of  his  young 

life,  his  thrill- 

d  his  precious 

us  guard  them 

them  in  the 
n  the  walls  of 
jnce  and  high 
of  that  Upper 
inite  grandeur 
easing  praises 


DR.  KANE'S   FIRST  NARRATIVE 

of  Sir  John  Cl     .   be?ne  the°on]v^'"'""^'' '"""'''""'  "  '^"^  ^t<--e^  rtmU 

Bhoald  be  owned  by  all  who  have  nmrlf      ,  1? ''  '"-'^"ll before  published.     It 
Dr.  Kane's  works  comprete.  P"'^'^"'*^'^  ^^^  last  Expedition  as  it  makes 

"Tf        ^A         ^'■°'"  *^«  LONDON  ATHBNiEUM 

tbe  excellent  and  graphic  mnner  in  whiH.  ,  ,''"''"  *°.^'""'''  ^'-  ^ane  for 
terrible  picture,  but  o?so  alT  the  Ldde^t  If  tho  r"  ^T'"^'  ""'  ""'^  ^his 
account  of  his  voyage,  which  is  ful  of  rtlr^p  ^^°.  ^^.^Ped'tion.  Besides  the 
at  length  into  the  pi  ysical  geoSaohv  o^^^^^^       "icuients,  Dr.  Kane  enters 

jvh.ch  is  profusely  aJd'ldrnira' iSst^ated  t  o"^^^^  t?^""%  -"'^  ""^'^^ 
that  we  have  seen,  and  deserves  a  nla, «  hi  iu  ■  J^'*"  "°^*  interesting 
records  of  Arctic  Adventure!"       ^         ^  ^^^  "^^  °^  '^"'^  "i°st  cherished 

Prom  HARPER'S  WEEKLT 

tem;tl\%'S\'L:?.t;ryTure\e^^'i7t;n^  !v  '""'r^'  '''''  ^  ^'^  -^leat- 
Jfbich  attaches  to  theist,  he  accou"'  of  w  '.i.".  ""  '^^r"'^  ''''  '"'^''^^t 
tion,  uniform  in  size  and  st^le  wiStTe  eco.rd  vorl'  ^""^''^"^  '°  '^  ^"^^  ^^1" 
po,,m  M«  ;«/,,r.  We  have  always  prized  hVhni;  "f.^'T"'^  '^  ""  ""^^ 
above  the  other,  both  on  account  of  ifsSe-tf  in^-f  f  "!f  ^''^  expedition 
because  of  the  greater  progress  ^n^lirSl;;^:!^  oTtlf;  ^LTct'^^ 

IN  PRESS, 
COL.  J.  C.  FREMONT'S  EXPLORATIONS 

superb?;iTa:e7:^;r,%res^::rrvA  ---'--'■ ' 

hnmediate  superintendence  of  Col    FnPMO^Trnn"^  /"^'"T^  ""'^^^  ^^e 
taken  on  the  spot,  and  will  be  issued  i^act J'  ?    "^  'f°™  ^loguerreotypes 

It  will  also  contain  a  new  Stee    Portrait  S^.  t°hf  "*^^'  ^'-  ^""«'''  ^^^k«- 
tbe  author  ever  published.  ^^"'^'^'t,  being  tbe  only  correct  likeness  of 

_  Two  VOLUMES,  OCTAVO— $6.00. 

Ihis  work  18  being  prepared  with  great  care  bv  Tot  T  r-  t? 
will  contain  a  rdsuni^  of  the  First  and  Sponn^  w  ■^  r  •  *'•  ^-  ^hemont,  and 
'43  and  .44,  and  a  detailed  acunrof  fhe  Thirdlxt.v'  ^"/'^  ^^""  ^^42, 
1845,  '4G  and  '47,  across  the  Rocky  Mountain!  f.^.  1?"  ''"""g  *!'«  J'^ars 
nia,  covering  the  conquest  anf  Lttlemen  „f  ^l^""^^  ^'®°"  '"'"  ^"'''■°'- 
Expedition,  of  1848-49,  up  thrKrasas  and  A-l-  '°""^'^'    *'"'   ^°"''*^ 

Mountains  of  Mexico,  down  the  DeTNorte  ttJ,  ^q ''''''■''."'*°  *''«  ^^^l^^ 
the  Fifth  Expedition,' of  1853  and  '54  acr'o 2  thffi  T"  m'"*°  California! 
heads  of  the  Arkansas  and  Colorado  Sers  U  ro  1,^,°' Yr  ^'°""^"i"«  '^t  the 
and  the  Great  Basin  into  CalifornU  The  who  fl-'i  ^'u™'"'  settlements 
ten  years  passed  among  the  wilds  Sf  America  ""^''"''  *  P'""**  °^ 

Ma^'s!  w'S^ilfSi' 'm:";^d.t°  1"^'^°  *°  '"^"^«  *^«  -—  of  the 
-  'V  i"«-.t.a.«  ah  the  uboTc-naaied  Expeditions.     " 


kml  mA  th  ^xmlims. 


By  Rev. 


D.  B.  KIDDER,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Ci.urch. 
J,  C.  FLETCHER,  op  tub  Presuyterian  CnuRcn. 


This  new  and  splendidly-illustrated  work  (one  Krge  volume  octavo,  in  uniform 
stylo  with  the  superb  volumes  of  Dr.  Kane's  Arctic  Explorations)  is  tho  joint  ctfort 
of  tho  above-named  gentlemen,  who,  &,s  travellers  and  as  missionaries,  (and  one  in 
an  official  position  as  Acting  Secretary  of  United  States  Legation  at  llio,)  have  had 
a  long  and  varied  experience  in  a  land  full  of  interest,  whpther  we  regard  it  in  a 
natural,  commercial,  political,  or  moral  point  of  view. 

There  is  no  comprehensive  book  of  recent  date  on  the  Empire  of  Brazil,  and 
it  is  a  great  desideratum  that  the  subject  should  be  presented  in  its  whole  aspect. 

vi  is  the  aim  of  "  BKAZit,  and  the  Bkazilians"  to  lay  before  the  public  a 
popular  and  faithful  account  of  the  wonderful  phenomena  of  the  tropics,  and  with 
graphic  pen  and  pencil  to  portray  the  gorgeous  scenery,  tho  history,  peculiar  man- 
ners and  customs,  and  the  political  institutions  of  tho  country,  and  the  general  con- 
dition of  tho  subjects  of  tho  enlightened  Emperor  Don  Pedro  II. 

The  naturalist  should  be  interested  in  a  region  which,  as  Gardiner,  the  celel  ited 
English  botaniit,  has  observed,  "is  richer  than  any  other  in  the  world  in  lOse 
objects  to  which  he  had  devoted  the  study  of  his  life." 

The  commercial  man  should  know  more  of  a  land  from  whence  are  deriv  '  so 
many  important  staple?, — v  hich  last  year  exported  sixty  million  dollars'  worth  of 
her  productions,  and  imported  to  the  amount  of  fifty-three  million  dollars.  Brazil 
is  every  year  indebted  to  Europe,  (which  has  seven  lines  of  steamers  to  Pouth 
America;)  while  the  United  States  (with  not  a  single  steamer  to  the  south  he 
equator)  is  behindhand  each  year  with  Brazil  more  than  fourteen  millio  of 
dollars. 

The  Christian  community  should  know  move  nf  the  country  where  the  banner  of 
Protestant  Christianity  was  first  erected  in  the  New  World, — a  land  associated  with 
the  prayers,  labors,  and  names  of  the  French  Huguenots,  minis' ^rs  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Holland,  and  of  the  devoted  Henry  Martyn,—  a  land  open  to  Bible  and 
rrissionary  eiiort.  This  work  treats  of  these  topics,  and  contains  deeply-interesting 
incidents  of  recent  missionary  tours. 

A  great  interest  attaches  to  this  Empire,  whose  Constitution  is  liberal  and 
tolerant,  whose  Government  is  strong,  and  whose  material  prosperity  is  over 
advancing. 

There  are  more  than  130  engravings,  on  steel,  wood,  and  stone,  from  original 
and  other  sketches,  and  by  tho  pencils  and  gr.ivers  of  the  same  artists  who  have  so 
elegantly  adorned  the  thrillingly-intercsting  narrativo  of  Dr.  Kane. 

The  publishers  can  only  add  that  the  style  of  letter-pres  and  of  the  illustrations 
In  the  "  Arctic  Explorat'ons"  (which  is  from  their  establishment)  is  a  surcient 
guarantee  for  the  rich  typographical  execution  which  characterizes  '♦  Brazi  v.nd 
the  Brazilians." 

J@"  This  work  is  sold  exclusively  by  subscription,  and  can  only  be  obiained 
from  our  authorized  Agents.     Price,  $3.00  retail. 

GUILDS  &  PETERSON,  Publishers,  Philadelphia. 
4 


s. 


L  Cl.URCH. 

URca. 

itavo,  in  uniform 
is  tho  joint  effort 
ries,  (and  one  in 
It  Rio,)  have  had 
re  regard  it  in  a 

re  of  Brazil,  and 
■whole  aspect. 
are  the  public  a 
tropics,  and  with 
•y,  peculiar  man- 
the  general  con- 

er,  tho  celel  ited 
e  world  in     lose 

se  are  deriv  '  so 
dollars'  worth  of 
1  dollars.  Brazil 
earners  to  Pouth 
the  south  he 
teen  millic       of 

)re  the  banner  of 
d  associated  with 
of  the  Reformed 
pen  to  Bible  and 
ieeply-interesting 

n  is  liberal  and 
'osperity  is  over 

ne,  from  original 

lists  who  have  so 

e. 

'  the  illustrations 

it)  is  a  surcient 

;cs  "Brazi      vsv 

only  be  obtained 


Philadelphia. 


